Court of Assizes

The Assize Court rules on the most serious crimes, including (attempted) murder, (attempted) manslaughter, deadly hostage-taking, political and press crimes as well as the most serious sex offenses.

The Assize Court does not sit permanently. It is constituted ad hoc each time an accused is referred to the Assize Court by the Indictments Chamber.

In principle, the seat of the Assize Court is located in the capital of the provinces and in the administrative district of Brussels-Capital. This means that the ad hoc Assize Court can have its seat in Arlon, Antwerp, Mons, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Leuven, Liège, Namur, Nivelles or Tongeren.