France to rein in judges' power
FRANCE'S investigating judges are a powerful lot: They can order phone taps and home searches, interrogate terrorists and bring down politicians. One has even ordered former French President Jacques Chirac to stand trial.
Those sweeping powers may soon end.
President Nicolas Sarkozy's government is drawing up a reform plan to do away with investigating judges - a two-century-old Napoleonic legacy - and give more power to prosecutors. Advocates say the plan will prevent miscarriages of justice by powerful, independent magistrates, while critics see it as self-defense by leaders who want to avoid prosecution.
"This is an attempt to get control of the justice system," said Marc Trevidic, who heads the French Association of Investigating Magistrates.
Investigating judge Xaviere Simeoni probed corruption allegations swirling around Chirac's 1977-1995 tenure as Paris mayor for a decade before making the bold move to send him to trial.
Magistrates' unions said the Chirac case never could have gone so far without the far-reaching independence of investigating judges.
Investigative judges handle only a small percent of the most serious cases, leading probes, questioning suspects and deciding who will be charged and tried.
A commission that handed its reform proposal to the government recently suggested that investigations be led by prosecutors instead of judges. Critics say that is problematic because prosecutors report to the Justice Ministry while investigating judges don't and have great freedom.
Those sweeping powers may soon end.
President Nicolas Sarkozy's government is drawing up a reform plan to do away with investigating judges - a two-century-old Napoleonic legacy - and give more power to prosecutors. Advocates say the plan will prevent miscarriages of justice by powerful, independent magistrates, while critics see it as self-defense by leaders who want to avoid prosecution.
"This is an attempt to get control of the justice system," said Marc Trevidic, who heads the French Association of Investigating Magistrates.
Investigating judge Xaviere Simeoni probed corruption allegations swirling around Chirac's 1977-1995 tenure as Paris mayor for a decade before making the bold move to send him to trial.
Magistrates' unions said the Chirac case never could have gone so far without the far-reaching independence of investigating judges.
Investigative judges handle only a small percent of the most serious cases, leading probes, questioning suspects and deciding who will be charged and tried.
A commission that handed its reform proposal to the government recently suggested that investigations be led by prosecutors instead of judges. Critics say that is problematic because prosecutors report to the Justice Ministry while investigating judges don't and have great freedom.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔$粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.