a particular group is widespread through State institutions. In such cases, the position of State authorities that such groups are not nationals would be decisive rather than the position of judicial authorities that might uphold the nationality rights of such groups. 49. There may be situations where the judgment of a court in a case not directly concerning the individual nevertheless has legal implications for that person’s nationality status. If the judgment alters, as a matter of domestic law, such a person’s nationality status, this will generally be conclusive as to his or her nationality (subject to the qualification regarding rule of law set out in the preceding paragraph). This may arise, for example, where in a particular case the interpretation of a provision governing a mechanism for automatic acquisition has the effect of bringing a whole body of people within the ambit of that provision without any action required on their or the government’s part.32 (xii) Temporal issues 20 50. An individual’s nationality is to be assessed as at the time of determination of eligibility under the 1954 Convention. It is neither a historic nor a predictive exercise. The question to be answered is whether, at the point of making an Article 1(1) determination, an individual is a national of the country or countries in question. Therefore, if an individual is partway through a process for acquiring nationality but those procedures are yet to be completed, he or she cannot be considered as a national for the purposes of Article 1(1) of the 1954 Convention.33 Similarly, where requirements or procedures for loss, deprivation or renunciation of nationality have only been partially fulfilled or completed, the individual is still a national for the purposes of the stateless person definition. 32 For example, this would be the case where a court rules that a provision of the nationality legislation governing automatic acquisition of nationality by individuals born in the territory prior to a specific date applies to an entire ethnic group, despite statements to the contrary by the government. 33 The same approach applies where the individual has not pursued or exhausted a remedy in relation to denial or withdrawal of nationality.