Jurisdictional dualism in France

Jurisdictional dualism in France is the separation of the French court system into two separate branches: the ordinary courts (ordre judiciaire), and the administrative courts (ordre administratif).[1] The ordinary courts, also known as the judiciary order, handle criminal and civil cases, while the administrative courts handle disputes between individuals and the government. This dual system allows for a clear separation of powers and specialized handling of cases related to the actions of the government.The administrative courts are headed by the Council of State, and the ordinary courts by the Court of Cassation for judiciary law.[1]

Schema showing jurisdictional dualism in the French legal system

The separation of public law (administrative)[2] and private law (judiciary) goes back to Roman law. A separate branch for public law existed during the Ancien régime. Many other countries have such a system (including in common-law countries) not only in having a separate judicial order for administrative courts (which exist also in Germany, for example, with Article 95 of the Basic Law of Germany). However, France is exceptional in this regard because of the position of the administrative judge in being superior to the administration, and because administrative law is largely unwritten, and established mostly by administrative judicial jurisprudence. That is, administrative law derives largely from case law written by administrative judges, and not by laws passed by the legislature.

In the case of the judiciary order, codes are established by the legislature and open to all.[lower-alpha 1] but as administrative law is result of jursprudence and uncodified, it is not discussed in Parliament, not published in the Journal Officiel, and hidden from the public.[3]

When there is a potential conflict of jurisdiction between courts of the administrative order and courts of the judiciary order, this is handled by the Tribunal des conflits.[4]

Judiciary order
Main article: French judiciary courts
Further information: French criminal law

Courts of the judiciary order have jurisdiction for settling disputes between private individuals and to punish the perpetrators of criminal offenses. The judicial order is subdivided into two categories of courts: the civil courts and the criminal courts. Civil courts settle disputes (for example, rent, divorce, inheritance) but do not impose penalties. Criminal courts punish offences against people, property and society.[1][5][6]

Administrative order
Main article: Administrative law in France

Courts of the administrative order have jurisdiction when a "public person" (not a human, but a personne publique) is involved, for example, a municipality or a government department. Courts of the administrative order are organized in three levels: The Council of State, the administrative courts of appeal in the second instance, and the administrative tribunals in the first instance; these courts ensure a balance between the prerogatives of public power and the rights of citizens.[1][6]

See also

References
Notes
  1. Open to all: in recent years, legal codes are freely available online in the form of the Légifrance website established by the French government, according to law.
Citations
  1. MDLJ-OrgJustice 2021.
  2. Isom 2022.
  3. Bermann & Picard 2008, p. xxxii.
  4. Sauvé 2016.
  5. MDLJ-OJudiciaire 2021.
  6. Beaudoin 2021.

Works cited
  • Beaudoin, Franck (15 October 2021). "French law: quick overview". Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  • Bermann, George A.; Picard, Etienne, eds. (1 January 2008). Introduction to French Law. Kluwer Law. ISBN 978-90-411-2466-1. OCLC 219574344.
  • Isom, David (16 November 2022), Legal System - French Legal Research Guide - Guides at Georgetown Law Library, Georgetown Law Library, retrieved 1 March 2023 see 'loi'
  • French Ministry of Justice (15 November 2021). "Présentation de l'ordre judiciaire" [Presentation of the judicial order]. Ministère de la Justice (in French). Retrieved 25 February 2023. L'ordre judiciaire se divise en deux catégories de juridictions : les juridictions civiles et les juridictions pénales. Les juridictions civiles tranchent les litiges. [The judiciary order is divided into two categories of courts: the civil courts and the criminal courts. The civil courts decide disputes.]
  • French Ministry of Justice (15 September 2021). "L'organisation de la justice en France" [Organization of justice in France]. Ministère de la Justice (in French). Les juridictions françaises se répartissent en deux ordres : un ordre judiciaire et un ordre administratif. Les juridictions de l'ordre judiciaire sont compétentes pour régler les litiges opposant les personnes privées et pour sanctionner les auteurs d'infractions aux lois pénales. ... Les juridictions de l'ordre administratif sont compétentes dès qu'une personne publique est en cause (une municipalité ou un service de l'État par exemple). [The French courts are divided into two orders: a judicial order and an administrative order. The courts of the judicial order are responsible for settling disputes between private individuals and for punishing the perpetrators of criminal offenses. ... The administrative courts have jurisdiction as soon as a public entity is involved (a municipality or a government department for example).]
  • Sauvé, Jean-Marc (28 September 2016). "Le dualisme juridictionnel : synergies et complémentarité" [Jurisdictional dualism: synergies and complementarity] (in French). Conseil d'État. Retrieved 3 March 2023.

Further reading
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