ABSTRACT
France operates under both an inquisitorial system and a civil law system. The judicial system is a cornerstone of its democratic society, ensuring justice and the rule of law. The court system is organised hierarchically into three levels. At the base are the courts of first instance (tribunaux de première instance, renamed tribunaux judiciaires in 2020). These ordinary courts handle civil and criminal cases. For criminal matters, the tribunaux correctionnels handle misdemeanours, while the tribunaux de police deal with minor offences. The most serious crimes, such as murder, are tried in the cour d’assises, which includes a jury of citizens and a judge. Appeals from these courts are heard in a cour d’appel, and the highest level of appeal is the Cour de cassation, which functions similarly to the Supreme Court in Canada or the United States.
