An investigation into the causes of death was opened by the Nanterre prosecutor's office following the death of a 44-year-old magistrate in the middle of a hearing at the city's courthouse on Tuesday, October 18.
The investigation was entrusted to the Territorial Directorate of Local Security (DTSP) of Hauts-de-Seine, learned
Le Figaro,
confirming information from
Parisian
.
The magistrate was presiding over the immediate appearance hearing when she became unwell.
Paris firefighters and Samu doctors tried to resuscitate her for more than an hour, without success.
"
People are shocked by this brutal death and by the attitude of the defendants who were in the box
," said a regular at the courthouse in
Paris
.
Indeed, according to this information, the defendants showed an almost happy attitude in the face of this tragedy.
Read alsoFirst round between magistrates and their minister
This death comes a few months after a motion voted by the magistrates and officials of the Nanterre court presenting a list of 121 tasks impossible to do given the lack of staff.
Gathered in plenary assembly on January 28, 2022, they even estimated that 177 positions were needed to “
reach the national average
”, unlike the 104 positions occupied.
Nearly nine months later, the situation has not changed much.
“
We were never heard,
assures Viviane Brethenoux, regional delegate of Versailles of the Union of Magistrates (USM).
Yet our calls have been repeated.
The tragically deceased magistrate had still made a note two days before her death to highlight the lack of personnel in her court.
»
In a year of requests, the number of magistrates has never been increased.
The magistrates therefore decided to turn to the Council of State to request the cancellation of a ministerial circular which fixes, annually, the number of positions provided for in each court.
"
Thanks to this, the Minister of Justice can say that 'justice has been repaired' and that all the positions are filled, but the figure is completely under-calibrated
", insists Viviane Brethenoux.
At present, however, it is impossible to determine whether this overwork is one of the causes of the death of the 44-year-old magistrate, even if the regional delegate of the USM considers that "
when you die in service, it does not cannot be indifferent to this service
”.
Faced with everyone's shock, mourning and anger, the courthouse has in any case set up psychological support cells, open since Wednesday.