Coronavirus: with the closure of the courts, justice is idling in France

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In France, since the start of confinement, the courts have been closed, but the justice system has not been completely shut down, despite the postponement sine die of thousands of hearings. In each jurisdiction, business continuity plans are in place, but these activities are strictly reduced to "essential litigation".

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Immediate appearances, juvenile court, appearances before the judge responsible for the enforcement of sentences ... Justice now concentrates on urgent procedures essentially relating to the protection of persons or liberty.

Measures have also been taken to facilitate remote activity, such as videoconference hearings and many professionals are teleworking.

But it is the entire judicial system that is idling, even is at a standstill, says Christiane Féral-Schuhl, president of the National Council of Bars (CNB): “ Many jurisdictions are at a standstill. According to a questionnaire launched last week, 41% of lawyers say they are at a standstill. So you have bars like that of Toulouse, Montpellier which are really stopped. There are jurisdictions that work. A priori Paris is organized, but everything depends on the courts and the heads of courts. And then I add that there are digital justice problems because the virtual private network of lawyers who dialogues with the virtual private network of justice works badly, because the clerks cannot telework. "

The hearings which still take place are not taking place in satisfactory health security conditions, denounce the justice professionals. Faced with the risk, the appointment of officially appointed lawyers has also been suspended in certain jurisdictions where litigants therefore find themselves alone before the judge.

An unacceptable situation, especially for the bars of Paris and Marseille, who asked the Council of State on Tuesday to order the State to provide masks and hydro-alcoholic gel to staff in the exercise of their functions.

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