France plans to allow cameras in court as part of justice reforms

 News conference after the weekly cabinet meeting in Paris

French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti gestures as he speaks during a news conference after the weekly cabinet meeting discussions over a bill to fight what Macron has called Islamist separatism at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Dec. 9, 2020. (File photo from REUTERS)

PARIS — France plans to allow cameras into courtrooms for the first time as part of reforms to the country’s justice system, Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said after a cabinet meeting.

Dupond-Moretti, a lawyer who joined President Emmanuel Macron’s cabinet last year, unveiled the draft bill that the government hopes will restore confidence in the courts.

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“French people no longer have confidence in the country’s justice system,” Dupond-Moretti told reporters. “The publicity of the hearing is a great democratic guarantee.”

He cited a survey from French research institute Cevipof that found only 48% of French people had confidence in their judiciary, compared with 69% in Germany and 61% in Britain.

The survey showed they viewed the French process as too slow and not robust enough in some criminal cases.

Dupond-Moretti worked as a lawyer for 36 years before he was named justice minister with a brief to reform the system.

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