20It is apparent from the contested judgment that on 30 September 1982 the appointing authority decided for the first time to refer to the Disciplinary Board the complaints made against the applicant. Following the latter's observations, the appointing authority informed him on 14 January 1983 that it had decided to annul that procedure. On 13 April 1983 the matter was again referred to the Disciplinary Board, which met several times between 2 June 1983 and 10 February 1984, the date on which it adopted its reasoned opinion. On 24 May 1984 the appointing authority downgraded the applicant. The applicant brought an action before the Court of Justice for the annulment of that decision. By judgment dated 20 June 1985 in Case 141/84 ([1985] ECR 1951) the Court of Justice found that the procedure followed by the Disciplinary Board had been vitiated by a fundamental defect (examination of witnesses in the absence of the applicant and his legal representative) and accordingly annulled the appointing authority's decision. After obtaining an opinion from the Court of Auditors and awaiting the outcome of the parliamentary procedure concerning the grant of a final discharge for the 1982 financial year, the appointing authority informed the applicant on 9 December 1986 of its intention to re-open the disciplinary procedure against him. By letter of 24 June 1987 it brought the matter before the Disciplinary Board. The disciplinary procedure culminated in the disciplinary measure which was reviewed by the contested judgment.