Originally, the had no panels, the decisions therefore had to be taken in plenary sessions. This was rectified with effect from 1 September 1871 when the court formed two panels. The first panel was chaired by the court's president, , while the second panel was led by its vice president . On 9 July 1874, a third panel was formed and chaired by , who became a further vice president. The president distributed the cases to the individual panels. To render a decision seven judges had to participate in a case and a majority for the decision had to be found.
