Hard-pressed court staff work to rule
Court logjam on the way as judges and court officials start work-to-rule over lack of resources in justice system
JUDGES and other court officials have started a work-to-rule over a shortage of resources that is expected to jam up the justice system.
The move comes ahead of a general strike called for Thursday in protest at changes to the pensions system.
The general secretary of the magistrates’ union USM, Laurent Bedouet, said they would pay strict attention to laws on courtroom procedure.
For instance, court sittings were not allowed to last longer than six hours and any that did would be referred back. It was a first step to showing how they did not have enough staff, money or time to do their jobs properly.
Similarly, she said, cases could not proceed without a greffier clerk of court and these would also be referred back.
The effect would not be noticeable on the first day, but would snowball as cases were postponed.
In all, 17 unions and magistrates associations covering judges, clerks of court and court security staff have joined the protest.
Ms Bedouet told 20minutes.fr that each referral would send a message to the Chancellerie at the Ministry of Justice that the courts needed more resources.
However, Chancellerie spokesman Guillaume Didier said changes were under way and they had already increased the budget by 50 per cent since 2002.
Photo: © Marc CECCHETTI - Fotolia.com
