Procedure
The ICE8000 International Credit Dispute Trial Standard
The Court tries cases under the ICE8000 International Integrity Standard System — International Credit Dispute Trial Standard. This page is a chapter-by-chapter guide to help parties quickly grasp the three-instance system, the summary and ordinary procedures, how the effect of a ruling may be excluded, and how rulings are published and carried out.
ICE8000 International Integrity Standard System · International Credit Dispute Trial Standard
This page is a guide, not a translation of the full text. The Standard is authoritative in its original Chinese; in case of any discrepancy, the Chinese text published on the WCO website prevails.
Original text of the Standard
§ 01Key figures
The deadlines parties most need to know
US$500,000
Disputes up to this amount follow the first-instance summary procedure
30 days
For the defendant to file a defence after receiving the Notice of Acceptance
3 months
For a summary-procedure ruling, from the formation of the tribunal
6 months
For second- and third-instance rulings, from formation of the tribunal or acceptance
15 days
To appeal a ruling, or to publish a notice of non-acceptance
1 / 1 / 1
The Supreme Court decides one person one vote, by unanimity
§ 02Chapter by chapter
ICE8000 International Credit Dispute Trial Standard
Chapter 1General provisionsPurpose of the Standard, its legal basis, definitions, the establishment and independence of the Court, and the nature of its rulings.
- Law is only the floor of conduct; the Standard exists to make good its shortfalls and encourage people to follow morality of their own accord
- Four legal foundations: constitutional freedom, public order and good morals, good faith, freedom of contract
- A ruling is a credit evaluation and moral appraisal with no automatic binding force; a dissatisfied party may exclude its effect
- Trials follow independence, neutrality, openness, fairness, impartiality, justice, integrity, supervision, conciliation and jury priority
- The Court may require parties to prove their identity and open an integrity file
Chapter 2Organization and jurisdictionComposition of the courts of first and second instance and the Supreme Court, election of presidents, juries, and exclusive jurisdiction.
- Courts of first and second instance consist of moral judges and jurors; the Supreme Court consists of grand moral judges
- Presidents of first and second instance are elected by all moral judges for two years; the Supreme Court president by all grand moral judges for four
- Either party may opt for a jury trial, but must pay the jury costs in advance
- Jurors must be over 21, hold personal integrity grade B or above, and be free of ethnic, racial or religious prejudice
- Six categories of case — interpretation of the charter, membership referendums and the like — fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under the special procedure
Chapter 3First-instance summary procedureThe fast track for disputes of up to US$500,000.
- The plaintiff files a Moral Complaint and names a moral judge as case officer, who issues a Notice of Acceptance within three working days
- The defendant must answer within thirty calendar days or is deemed to have waived the right
- In a jury trial the plaintiff draws two jurors by lot and the defendant one; the defendant chooses the presiding moral judge
- The tribunal may decide on the documents or hold a hearing; as a rule only one hearing is held
- The tribunal must rule within three months of its formation
Chapter 4First-instance ordinary procedure and exclusion of effectThe full procedure for all other cases: form of pleadings, oath of conscience, formation of the tribunal, evidence, conciliation, ruling and exclusion of its effect.
- The Moral Complaint must state the applicable standard, the parties, the claims, the facts and grounds, the law and ICE8000 standards relied on, and carry the oath-of-conscience clause
- Before any evidence is admitted and before any negative assessment takes effect, the parties must be told of their right to object
- The tribunal may conciliate; a confirmed settlement has the same effect as a ruling
- A party dissatisfied with a first-instance ruling may appeal within fifteen days, or publish a notice of non-acceptance and notify the tribunal in writing
Chapter 5Second-instance procedure and exclusion of effectLodging an appeal, formal requirements of the Moral Appeal, formation of the appellate tribunal and its ruling.
- A party may appeal to the court of second instance within fifteen days of service of the first-instance ruling
- The appeal must carry the undertakings and the oath-of-conscience clause, and the trial fee must be paid in advance under the fee schedule
- In a jury trial the appellant chooses the presiding judge and draws three jurors; the respondent draws four
- The tribunal must rule within six months of its formation
- A party dissatisfied with the second-instance ruling may appeal to the third instance within fifteen days, or publish a notice of non-acceptance
Chapter 6Third-instance procedure and exclusion of effectThe final-instance procedure before the Supreme International Moral Court.
- All grand moral judges form the tribunal; an interest in the case must be disclosed in writing, but no one may seek recusal
- The tribunal votes one person one vote, by unanimity
- The ruling of the Supreme Court is the final ruling of the World Credit Organization
- A party may still publish a notice of non-acceptance within fifteen days to exclude the ruling's effect on itself
Chapter 7Special procedure and exclusion of effectHearings, discussion periods and ruling requirements for membership referendum applications and other cases of exclusive jurisdiction.
- If one percent of members request a hearing, the tribunal must hold one
- A discussion period may be set before the ruling so that all sides can state their views
- Rulings must guard against public frenzy, stay closely aligned with the WCO's purpose and with universal human values, and take the long view of history
Chapter 8Publication of rulingsRulings are published at once and never deleted.
- The tribunal publishes its ruling as soon as it is made
- Personal privacy, trade secrets and state secrets are removed; where necessary only the title is published
- A published ruling is never deleted; credit restoration and corrections are handled by annotation
Chapter 9ExecutionVoluntary compliance, public statements of non-compliance, and the record of execution.
- An effective ruling is carried out voluntarily by the parties
- A party who considers a ruling unjust may decline to comply and may publish its reasons; a party that neither complies nor explains is deemed to have no reason
- The ruling, the parties' statements and the record of compliance are entered in the integrity files, for others to judge
- A WCO member that neither complies nor explains has failed its duty to cooperate and may face public criticism and other credit sanctions
Chapter 10Supervision of trialsApplications for retrial and the handling of misconduct by judges.
- A party who believes an effective ruling is wrong may apply to the original tribunal or the president for a retrial
- A retrial must be held where there is evidence that a judge or juror breached the duty of integrity, or that staff were at fault
- Judges, jurors and grand judges who breach the rules are sanctioned; parties' losses are compensated
Chapter 11Liability for breach and how it is pursuedLegal, credit, self-regulatory and compensatory liability for breaching the Standard.
- A party in breach bears legal liability, credit liability (complaints, warnings, exposure), self-regulatory liability and liability to compensate
- Remedies include credit complaints, arbitration, trial before the Court, and suit in the courts of the District of Columbia or the U.S. federal courts
- No claim, no action: liability is pursued only at the initiative of the injured party
- The WCO bears financial liability for its own faults
Chapter 12Supplementary provisionsOfficial languages, translation, and the means of service and notice.
- Chinese and English are the official languages
- Service and notice may be by email or ordinary post; email is deemed served when sent
§ 03How to exclude a ruling's effect on yourself
How to exclude a ruling's effect on yourself
A ruling of the Court has no automatic binding force. A party who does not accept a ruling may take the following steps within fifteen days of receiving it; if none is taken, the ruling takes effect on the date it states.
01
First-instance ruling
Appeal to the court of second instance; or publish a notice of non-acceptance in the media, on the international credit supervision network or on your own website, and notify the tribunal in writing.
02
Second-instance ruling
Appeal to the Supreme International Moral Court; or publish a notice of non-acceptance and notify the tribunal in writing.
03
Third-instance ruling
The Supreme Court's ruling is final and cannot be appealed; a party may still publish a notice of non-acceptance to exclude its effect on itself.
A party who has excluded a ruling's effect need not comply with it. This does not prevent others from recognising the ruling, nor from acting on it.
Ready to file a moral complaint?
Please read the fee schedule first, then purchase the Court's trial service through the ICE8000 Integrity Store.