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Toulouse Lawyers Strike on 'Dead Justice' Day

Lawyers hold placards reading 'Mobilized lawyer' in Toulouse, France, on April 13, 2026. All justice unions, including the Syndicat de la Magistrature and lawyers' groups such as SAF and UJA, call for a strike and gathering outside the Courthouse of Toulouse and across France for a 'justice dead' day. The protest responds to a proposed law by Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, which is set for a vote in the French Senate. The law would bypass the jury system and introduce a 'plead guilty' option for nearly all crimes, including rape and murder. This change would reduce the role of victims, witnesses, and experts in court proceedings, as hearings would be eliminated unless the accused rejects the prosecutor's proposal. Magistrates and lawyers express concern over the impact on their roles, acknowledging that while justice is slow, the system in Toulouse alone lacks 19 court clerks. This marks the first joint strike by the two magistracy unions, SM and USM, in years. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#13573485
Date Taken	13 April 2026
Location	N/A
Photographer	Alain Pitton/NurPhoto
Category	Crime, Law and Justice
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Alain Pitton/NurPhoto

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