Dupont-Moretti’s rethink of Marseille judges ‘likely to undermine’ separation of powers

The reorganization of judges carried out by Justice Minister Eric Dupont-Moretti will “likely undermine” the separation of powers, the Supreme Council of the Judiciary (SCJ) regretted this Wednesday in a press release.

The CSM, the body constitutionally responsible for protecting the independence of the judiciary, received on Tuesday the heads of the Marseille court, who were reprimanded by the minister in mid-March following their appearances before a Senate commission of inquiry into the fight against drug trafficking. .

“Blower”

On the sidelines of a trip to Marseille with Head of State Emmanuel Macron on March 19 to launch Place Net, the minister was angered by comments made during a Senate committee hearing.

According to the minister, the judges made comments borrowed from “defeatism” and “playing into the hands of the RN,” saying, in particular, before the commission that they were afraid of “losing the war against human traffickers in Marseille.”

“Following the criticism expressed,” says a CSM press release, which does not mention the name of Eric Dupont-Moretti, “the Superior Council of the Magistracy recalls that judges, like all people heard under oath by a parliamentary commission of inquiry, are obliged to tell the whole truth and nothing except the truth and, therefore, are obliged to be sincere.”

“Reproaching them for comments made in this context would likely undermine both their freedom of expression and the separation of powers,” the Council continued in a rare call to order.

“Speak fluently”

“The SCM intends to demonstrate its full support to all judicial actors involved in the fight against drug trafficking, the effectiveness of which requires that judges carry out their activities with complete calm, without compromising their authority and authority,” the press release also confirms.

Eric Dupont-Moretti’s rethink touched the judiciary and even the rapporteur of the parliamentary commission of inquiry, Senator Etienne Blanc, who questioned the minister on the issue during Government Questions at the end of March.

“I completely agree with that,” the Justice Minister retorted during this heated debate in the Senate. Judges are “free in their speech”, “but the minister is also free in his expression (…) I take nothing back from my comments”, he said.