The French Legal System

Transcription

1 The French Legal System Second edition Andrew West LLB (Southampton), Diplome d'etudes Superieures d'universite (Droit compare) (Aix-Marseille III), PGCE (FE) (Wales), Solicitor; Lecturer, University of Wales Swansea. Yvon Desdevises Docteur d'etat en Droit, Professeur et Doyen honoraire a Alain Fenet Docteur d'etat en Droit, Professeur a l'universite d'evry Val d'essonne. Dominique Gaurier Docteur d'etat en Droit, Maitre de Conferences a Marie-Clet Heussaff Docteur d'etat en Droit, Maitre de Conferences a Bruno Levy Docteur d'etat en Droit, Maitre de Conferences a l'universite de Nantes. Butterworths London, Edinburgh, Dublin 1998

2 Contents Preface v Chapter One: Historical development and classification of laws 1 PART ONE: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE FRENCH LEGAL SYSTEM 1 A. Roman Gaul to feudal France 1 1. Roman Gaul 1 2. From ethnic to local customary law 2 3. The evolution of royal authority 2 4. Evolution of the judicial system and legal procedure... 4 B. Sources of pre-revolutionary law (Ancien Droit) 8 1. Customary law 8 2. Case law of the Parlements Royal ordinances Roman law Canon law Legal writings (la doctrine) Towards codification 17 C. Revolutionary and post-revolutionary law Repeal of Ancien Droit Codification of private law Introduction of a written constitution 23 PART TWO: CLASSIFICATION OF FRENCH LAW The distinction between droit public and droit prive Classification of French law 25 Texts and Materials 28 Chapter Two: Modern sources of law 41 A. Introduction Ancien Droit Sources of modern French law Understanding the French approach to the written law 41 B. Legislation Loi and reglement Hierarchy of texts Parliamentary statutes (lois) Interpretation of legislation 49

3 Vlll THE FRENCH LEGAL SYSTEM C. Case law (la jurisprudence) Introduction Is case law a source of law? The authority of case law Form and presentation of decisions Law reports 60 D. Legal writings (la doctrine) Definition and role Form 61 E. Custom Introduction Continuing importance of custom 61 Texts and Materials 64 Chapter Three: The court system, the judiciary and the legal professions A. The court system General principles Ordinary courts Administrative courts Le Conseil Constitutionnel 94 B. The judiciary Introduction Recruitment and training Independence Discipline 99 C. The legal professions Introduction Avocats Avocats aux Conseils Notaires Avoues pres des Cours d'appel Huissiers de justice Administrateurs et mandataires judiciaires 110 D. Costs and legal aid Introduction Costs Ill 3. Legal aid Ill Texts and Materials 114 Chapter Four: The constitutional framework 135 A. Introduction 135 B. The Republic The notion of 'Republique' The continuity of the Republic The Republican programme The institutions of the Republic: separation of powers The defence of the Republic 150 C. The nation Theoretical basis National sovereignty 153

4 Contents ix 3. Amendments to the principle of national sovereignty in the 1958 Constitution 155 D. I'Etat de droit The hierarchy of norms The Constitution and parliamentary statute International and EU law General principles of law Presidential decisions Ordinances, Government regulations; le pouvoir reglementaire The principle of legality Le mediateur 171 Texts and Materials 173 Chapter Five: Criminal procedure 215 A. First principles Characteristics Historical development Burden and means of proof 218 B. Those involved in the criminal action The police The prosecution; le ministere public La partie civile; prosecution by the victim Prosecution by persons other than the ministere public and partie civile Juge d'instruction The Chambre d'accusation of the Cour d'appel The jury 236 C. L'enquete de police Purpose and characteristics L'enquete preliminaire and l'enquete de flagrance Police powers and rights of the suspect during the enquete Termination of l'enquete de police 246 D. Instruction Purpose and nature of instruction Recourse to instruction Arrest, detention and questioning of the suspect Questioning of witnesses Factual investigations Expert investigations Investigation of the background of the accused (l'enquete de personnalite) Bringing to an end instruction; ordonnances de reglement The Chambre d'accusation of the Cour d'appel 263 E. Trial Characteristics Trial procedure Simplified trial procedure in the Tribunal de Police F. Voies de recours; appeals 268

5 X THE FRENCH LEGAL SYSTEM 1. Introduction Appel Opposition Pourvoi en cassation Pourvoi en revision 270 Texts and Materials 272 Chapter Six: Civil and administrative procedure 285 A. Introductory matters Growth of litigation Roles of the judge and the parties Procedure: secret or public? Procedure: written or oral? Burden and means of proof Role of the ministere public and commissaire du gouvernement 290 B. Civil procedure in Tribunal de Grande Instance cases Commencement of an action The instruction phase Hearing and judgment Voies de recours (appeals) Voies d'execution: enforcement of judgments 304 C. Particular procedures Introduction Procedures for simple and urgent matters (les procedures d'urgence) Procedure in respect of consent orders (matiere gracieuse) Procedure before courts of special jurisdiction Arbitration Alternative dispute resolution 311 D. Administrative court procedure Introduction Different types of administrative proceedings (recours) Non-suspensive effect of administrative proceedings Conditions for proceedings to lie (conditions de recevabilite des recours) Procedure in the administrative courts 317 Texts and Materials 320 Glossary of terms 333 Selected bibliography 349 Index 355