The court of Justice shall sit in plenary session when a Member State or a Community  institution that is a party to the proceedings so requests.

Should the Court of Justice so request, the Council may, acting unanimously, increase the  number of Judges and make the necessary adjustments to the second and third paragraphs of  this Article and to the second paragraph of Article 32b.

Article 32a ( * )

( * ) As amended by Article 4(2)(a) of the Convention on Common Institutions.

The Court of Justice shall be assisted by eight Advocates General. However, a ninth advocate  General shall be appointed as from the date of accession until 6 October 2000.( ** )

( ** ) First paragraph as amended by Article 20 AA A/FIN/SWE in the version resulting from  Article 11 AD AA A/FIN/SWE.

It shall be the duty of the Advocate General acting with complete impartiality and  independence, to make, in open court, reasoned submissions on cases brought before the  Court, in order to assist the Court in the performance of the task assigned to it in Article 31.

Should the Court so request, the Council may, acting unanimously, increase the number of  Advocates General and make the necessary adjustments to the third paragraph of Article 32b.

Article 32b ( * )

( * ) As amended by Article 4(2)(a) of the Convention on Common Institutions.

The Judges and Advocates General shall be chosen from persons whose independence is  beyond doubt and who possess the qualifications required for appointment to the highest  judicial offices in their respective countries or who are juries consults of recognized  competence; they shall be appointed by common accord of the governments of the Member  States for a term of six years.

Every three years there shall be a partial replacement of the Judges. Eight and seven Judges  shall be replaced alternately. ( *** )

( *** ) Second paragraph as amended by Article 21 AA A/FIN/SWE in the version resulting  from Article 12 AD AA A/FIN/SWE.

Every three years there shall be a partial replacement of the Advocates General. Four  Advocates General shall be replaced on each occasion. ( * )

( * ) Third paragraph as amended by Article 21 AA A/FIN/SWE in the version resulting from  Article 12 AD AA A/FIN/SWE.

Retiring Judges and Advocates General shall be eligible for reappointment.

<15>