The court may have an authorized judge conduct preparatory proceedings.
裁判所は、受命裁判官に弁論準備手続を行わせることができる。
When an authorized judge conducts preparatory proceedings, the court's and the presiding judge's duties under the provisions of the preceding two Articles (excluding the reaching of a judicial decision prescribed in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article) are performed by the authorized judge; provided, however, that a judicial decision on an objection under the provisions of Article 150 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (5) of that Article and a judicial decision on denial under the provisions of Article 157-2 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to that paragraph are reached by the court in charge of the case.
An authorized judge who conducts preparatory proceedings may reach a judicial decision to commission an investigation under the provisions of Article 186, paragraph (1) or to request expert testimony, a judicial decision regarding the offering of documentary evidence following the submission of documents (including the objects prescribed in Article 231) or the offering for examination of evidence following the submission of electronic or magnetic records, or a judicial decision to request the sending of documents (including the objects prescribed in Article 229, paragraph (2) and Article 231) and electronic or magnetic records.
弁論準備手続を行う受命裁判官は、第百八十六条第一項の規定による調査の嘱託、鑑定の嘱託、文書（第二百三十一条に規定する物件を含む。）を提出してする書証の申出及び電磁的記録を提出してする証拠調べの申出並びに文書（第二百二十九条第二項及び第二百三十一条に規定する物件を含む。）及び電磁的記録の送付の嘱託についての裁判をすることができる。
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