Is this simply a truce or a sign of a new beginning? Since the presentation, on January 5, of his “action plan”, resulting from the work of the States General for Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti seems relieved. Relieved, first, to have been able to unveil its sixty measures which affect all areas of justice, and to have thus been able to catch up with the mess of December 2022, when these announcements had been suddenly postponed. To continue its momentum, the Keeper of the Seals officially presented, on Friday January 13, its “great amicable policy” in civil procedure, before foreign and French magistrates, lawyers or law professors. An innovation that is close to his heart and that he sees as a solution to reduce the time required to settle these disputes.
Relieved, Eric Dupond-Moretti is also relieved because his roadmap, on an unprecedented scale, offers him political respite. His supporters point out, with barely concealed pleasure, that the health plan had to be taken over by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and that on the Rue de Grenelle side, the Minister of Education, Pap Ndiaye , has difficulty making itself heard and making its mark. Clearly, those close to him believe that he weighs heavier than ever in the government.
The Keeper of the Seals is relieved, finally, because even his harshest critics have been forced to salute the work done, in particular the budgetary effort, with the objective of reaching 11 billion euros in 2027, an increase of 7.5 billion over the five-year period. This is the case, for example, of magistrates’ unions. Admittedly, the Syndicat de la magistrature is still very critical of the content of the plan, seeing, for example, in the strengthening of the friendly policy a movement of “diversion”, or even worrying about a security shift in the field of criminal procedure. But the majority formation of the profession, the Syndicate Union of Magistrates, said to itself ” satisfied ” of Mr. Dupond-Moretti’s work. Unheard of since the arrival, in the summer of 2020, of the former lawyer, place Vendôme.
Without having to spell things out
However, not all tensions have disappeared. Among the players in the judicial world, we take note of the announcements, but we carefully observe their implementation. With all the propriety that characterizes the senior magistrates and in a hushed tone, François Molins, Attorney General at the Court of Cassation, criticized, in hollow, the action of the Minister, during his speech, Monday, January 9, at the solemn re-entry hearing of the Court of Cassation. saluting first “the important step” concerning the budget and the creation of 10,000 additional jobs in five years – including 1,500 magistrates and 1,500 court clerks –, Mr. Molins made a point of emphasizing “the deep crisis of justice (…) that an increase in budgetary resources alone will not be enough to raise”, even evoking “deep discouragement and above all suffering”.
You have 43.5% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.