In theory, the court was a nonhierarchical entity of independent professionals. In practice, it had definite hierarchical aspects; its organization could be seen as a mixture of an autocracy (with the president of the court as its ruler) and a bureaucracy, especially in its relation to the Ministry of Justice. Recent developments have led to courts that are more independent of the Ministry in the management and administration of their own affairs. Internally, control rests with the president of the court, an executive committee (dagelijks bestuur), various other committees, some functionaires not belonging to the bench, and the general assembly, in which all the judges can participate. The author predicts an expanding managerial role for the president and a shrinking role for the general assembly. Growing bureaucracy is viewed as the greatest danger for the organization.