Judge Chris Nicholson will preside over African National Congress President Jacob Zuma's application to have the decision to prosecute him declared unlawful, the KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Vuka Tshabalala said on Monday.

Zuma's application will be heard in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday and Tuesday next week.

Speculation about who would be appointed to hear the case has been rife, with the Mercury newspaper reporting on Monday morning that Tshabalala had appointed Nicholson, a former human rights lawyer.

Tshabalala confirmed Nicholson's appointment but would not be drawn on his reasons for appointing him.

"Should I have to disclose why I have appointed him? I don't think so," he said.

Tshabalala said that if Zuma was unsuccessful in his applications and the a criminal trial got underway, Nicholson would also hear that trial.

The Mercury newspaper reported that Durban advocate Griffiths Madonsela and that Ranjit "JP" Purshotam would be assessors.

The announcement came as Zuma's legal team filed their heads of argument. Described as "the battle plan", heads of argument are prepared by legal teams to set out their arguments in a clear and convincing way.

Heads of argument generally indicate the name and number of the case, a description of the parties, the background facts, the legal questions that arise, the applicable law and a conclusion.

The state is expected to file its heads of argument on Wednesday. - Sapa

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Argus.