The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave the decision that the two adversaries should be made to sit in front of the judge. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 3588)
لَا قَضَاءُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَسُنَّةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّ الْخَصْمَيْنِ يَقْعُدَانِ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ الْحَاكِمِ