French Justice minister Michèle Alliot-Marie [Libération profile, in French] has proposed suppressing the jury in first instance criminal courts, among other reforms of the criminal procedure [Agenda links ; government presentation, in French]. Juries were up till now composed of citizens, who would be replaced by professionals were the proposal to be successful. According to the spokesman for the Justice ministry, Guillaume Didier, this reform would enhance the first instance courts’ efficiency [Le Parisien report, in French] by reducing delays between the end of an investigation and the start of the trial. These delays are detrimental to the defendants, some of whom spend up to 18 months on remand awaiting their trial. The ministry has proposed to create “criminal tribunals” composed of three criminal court judges and two lay judges (who usually hear small claims) to replace the current jury model composed of three judges and nine laymen.

The proposition will be submitted to vote in fall, and the government has promised that lawyers and judges will be involved in the drafting process. The unions representing the magistrates have nonetheless expressed their opposition to the project, on the grounds that performing jury duty is a way for citizens to participate in the justice system. They demand that the number of jury courts be increased instead in order to face the overload of cases.