While magistrates and clerks call for a strike Wednesday, December 15 to demand more resources “worthy” for justice, the Keeper of the Seals boasted Monday, December 13 of the number of magistrate positions created under the mandate of Emmanuel Macron. This record is however widely criticized by some magistrates but also members of the opposition. “You should know that there are half as many magistrates per inhabitant in this country, in France, than our German neighbors. No wonder there are 10-month, 12-month, 18-month trial deadlines. , 22 months “, in particular denounced at the beginning of November the deputy La France rebellious Ugo Bernalicis.
“In France, we have half the number of magistrates per inhabitant than in Germany. Providing resources for justice is essential, necessary and imperative. We will do so when the time comes. ”@Ugobernalicis details the program #security and #justice of @JLMelenchon. pic.twitter.com/RfbaXlqEwj
– France rebellious (@FranceInsoumise) November 10, 2021
According to the latest report from the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice published in 2020, there were in France (in 2018) just under 11 judges per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 24 in Germany. According to Cepej, France is even far below the European average of 21 judges per 100,000 inhabitants.
The figures are even less flattering when it comes to prosecutors with only three prosecutors per 100,000 inhabitants in France while the average is 12. Above all, this report indicates that, if France has the lowest number of prosecutors in Europe or almost, these must “despite everything, managing a very high number of cases (6.6 per 100 inhabitants) and exercising a record number of functions (13)”.
Even if these figures are worrying, they remain to be interpreted with caution. Insofar as justice does not operate in the same way in all countries, the European comparison has limits. In the United Kingdom, for example, there are only three judges per 100,000 inhabitants, in particular because many cases are handled by so-called “lay judges”.