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Paris, June 30 (OLA NEWS) – The French government convened a high-level consultation on criminal justice reform at the historic Hôtel de Bourvallais on Monday, as mounting concerns over court backlogs and procedural delays took center stage. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin addressed the press and stakeholders, outlining urgent legislative plans to tackle what officials are calling an unprecedented crisis in the French criminal justice system.
Minister Darmanin announced his intention to present a draft law by September, aiming to streamline criminal proceedings and reduce the overwhelming caseload facing French courts.
The event gathered a diverse panel of senior magistrates, prosecutors, and legal experts, including Rastoul, who advocated for both increased resources and a fundamental reorganization of court operations. He highlighted the need to preserve departmental criminal courts but questioned whether it remains practical to require five professional judges for each case, suggesting the inclusion of qualified citizen assessors as a potential solution. The discussions also explored the possibility of introducing plea bargaining in criminal cases to alleviate the burden on assize courts and accelerate trial timelines. These proposals reflect growing frustration among legal professionals, who warn that without swift and significant reform, the French justice system risks “judicial embolism” and a loss of public confidence.
The stakes are high: persistent delays not only threaten the rights of victims and defendants but also undermine the credibility of the justice system as a whole. As the government prepares its legislative response, participants at the Hôtel de Bourvallais underscored the urgency of simplifying criminal procedure and modernizing court structures. The outcomes of this consultation will shape the future of French criminal justice and determine whether the system can recover from its current state of crisis.
Reporting and pictures by Arnaud Vilette, Laura L’helgoualch, OLA NEWS Paris; editing by Alexandre Minguez.
