The Civil Procedure Rules 1998

[F1Initial consideration of the application by a single judgeE+W

87.3.(1) A judge may consider an application under rule 87.2 initially on paper.

(2) If an application has not been considered initially on paper, it must be considered—

(a)by a judge sitting in court, unless rule 87.7 applies; or

(b)if no judge is sitting in court, by a judge otherwise than in court.]