ABSTRACT
It has become frequent that the French, when fi nding themselves in court, address their judges as Votre Honneur.1 This new cultural habit has of course annoyed judges, but more important, as a judicial and cultural error, it is emblematic of a less innocent confusion between the American and French legal systems. Given the plethora of American courtroom fi ctions, either in cinema or on television, it is hardly surprising that the French have begun to acquire an American legal culture. The availability and practicality of television have contributed signifi cantly to this acquisition. Television requires little effort from viewers in terms of expense or transportation. They can thus enjoy courtroom dramas in the comfort of their homes. However, the huge place reserved to imported television productions is not the only cause for this confusion. Many French law fi ctions reproduce American courtroom settings: the place of the parties, a single judge, a jury box.2 Is it possible that production companies fail to realize that these are errors, or do they plant them knowingly in courtroom scenes, thinking that French audiences will feel more comfortable if they recognize expected (American) signs in order to follow a (French) drama?
