The Slowness of the French Justice System: Current Situation and Outlook

Article published on March 21, 2023, in the Gazette du Palais -here. 

The French justice system suffers from a concerning structural slowness, with trial durations nearly three times longer than the European average, leading to repeated rulings against the state and a loss of confidence among those subject to the justice system. This dysfunction stems from a combination of a growing backlog of cases, increasingly complex litigation, and chronic underfunding, as France allocates half as many human and financial resources to its justice system as Germany. While the Minister of Justice’s action plan calls for significant investments and the development of alternative dispute resolution methods, only a massive and structural effort will be capable of reversing this trend in the long term.