Editorial photo #13035679 Social Issue
Highway A69: Rare Hearing At The Administrative Court Of Appeal Of Toulouse For The Recusal Of Three Judges
An opponent of the planned A69 highway holds a placard reading 'to fight is good for health' in front of the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse after the hearings. A rare hearing takes place in the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse, where plaintiffs against the A69 are joined by the SAF (Union of French Lawyers) to request the recusal of two judges who participated in a ruling that reauthorized the continuation of work on the planned A69 highway. Plaintiffs have already asked these judges to recuse themselves, but they refused. Plaintiffs go to the Administrative Court of Appeal, stating that these judges must be recused to protect the confidence of French citizens in the administrative courts and the entire judicial system. Lawyers also argue for the impartiality of the justice system. More than a dozen lawyers are present, as this is a very rare case in the French justice system. According to custom, if a judge has already judged a case, he recuses himself if the same case goes to court again. The main association, 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free'), wants the construction of the highway to be stopped until all judicial decisions on the matter are made. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers in Toulouse, France, on November 28, 2025. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)
