This is the subject of the moment in all the courts: how to restart the judicial machine, largely dormant by the epidemic of Covid-19. While the Minister of Justice Nicole Belloubet has multiplied the consultations and must soon render its arbitrations, the heads of jurisdiction have already worked on the two main challenges to be met for the deconfinement planned from May 11: adapt to the new gives sanitary and absorb the stock of accumulated files.
In the courts, as elsewhere, life will not resume as before. “Courthouses are places of mixing, warns Eric Mathais, public prosecutor of Dijon (Côte-d’Or) and president of the National Conference of Public Prosecutors (CNPR). In Dijon, for example, it is estimated that between 300 and 400 people use the site daily in normal times. We will have to adapt and we are awaiting clear indications from the department. “For example,” explains the magistrate, “on the number of m2 to be allocated per agent in the offices or on the concentration of the public in the courtrooms. But once the main lines are known, it will be necessary to trust the heads of court and the heads of registry to locally adapt the instructions. “
Neutralized seats, floor marking, etc.
The reflections are already well underway in each court. “In order to take into account social distancing measures, we will undoubtedly neutralize seats in the courtrooms,” says Jean-Jaques Bosc, attorney general at the Nancy Court of Appeal (Meurthe-et-Moselle) . In Orléans (Loiret), thinking is about traffic within the courthouse. “We could impose a direction of traffic and put marks on the ground,” says the public prosecutor Nicolas Bessone.
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Also in Paris, the president of the tribunal de grande instance Stéphane Noël has specific projects: “distribution of masks in priority to magistrates and clerks, markings on the ground, markings on the benches in the hall of the lost steps, circulation circuits, distribution hydroalcoholic gel in offices and courtrooms, use of elevators in small groups, ”says the magistrate.
The question of the supply of masks comes up again and again. “Should we not deny unmasked people access to court? Asks Stéphane Noël. The Chancellery must very quickly communicate its doctrine on the subject. “If the port is imposed, it will be necessary to be able to provide them,” warns Eric Mathais. Nothing is less certain. “It’s the big blur, admits a high magistrate. We already have a limited stock in containment period, so we wonder how we can do after May 11. »On social networks, lawyers still testify to hearings where the defendants or their escorts are not protected.
All justice professionals also know that it is a world in which we expect a lot. And often with several people in a limited space. “Convening all the business of the day at the same time, this will obviously no longer be possible, judge Eric Mathais. I do not rule out asking people to wait outside the courthouse. “
“The second semester will be apocalyptic”
Even if it is time to restart, it will only happen gradually. “We are counting on a recovery at 50% on average, with variations depending on the services,” explains Stéphane Noël. From May 11th to 25th, the activity will be moderate, even if I hope to make 100% work again the service of referred in civil matters. Then, we hope for a larger recovery but it will be conditioned by many factors independent of the court: the health situation and the resumption of school and transport. “
