It seems that the “hammer” of justice has gone too far. Last December, CheckNews revealed the rebellion of several lawyers and magistrates against Tony Skurtys, president of immediate appearances at the Paris court. In question: an unparalleled repressive severity coupled with professional and ethical incidents reported on numerous occasions by lawyers, but also magistrates. Tuesday June 20, Tony Skurtys was “provisionally relieved of his duties” as presiding judge within the criminal emergency department by order of the President of the Paris court, Stéphane Noël, according to concordant sources interviewed by CheckNews.
The document, which CheckNews was able to consult, is clear: “In the interest of the proper administration of justice and the proper functioning of the 23rd correctional chamber, Mr. Tony Skurtys, vice-president, is temporarily relieved of his duties.” Understand: the controversial magistrate will no longer preside over the immediate appearances of the largest judicial machine in France. “The fact that a magistrate is discharged from his service because he is seriously dysfunctional is what litigants can expect from the institution, reacts hotly a magistrate preferring to remain anonymous. But this is usually done at the end of a disciplinary procedure which makes it possible to note ethical breaches. Contacted by CheckNews, the Superior Council of the Judiciary, the disciplinary body of the profession, indicates that it has not been the subject of any referral concerning the judge.
The rebellious lawyers and presidents of the bar
The order barring Tony Skurtys closely follows the story of an audience by a lawyer, posted on Twitter Monday, June 19, which seems to have set fire to the powder. The criminal lawyer denounced, as several colleagues had already done in recent months, misconduct and liberties taken with criminal procedure in the study of cases and the consideration of the defense. “We did not write the law you are trampling on, Judge”wrote the lawyer behind the account @FrenchyLawyer on Twitter.
A number of lawyers immediately joined in the discontent, joined by the Syndicate of Lawyers of France and the Presidents of the Bar of the order of Paris, promising an action to be heard. “It is fortunate that the lawyers have not given up because they are the ones who make the institution react, internally it is omerta, greets the magistrate quoted above. With us, the one who denounces becomes the bad object. The order signed on Tuesday also specifies that the decision is taken in particular in view of of the “elements brought to our attention by Madame la Batonnière“, but also “having regard to the collection of ethical obligations of magistrates of the Superior Council of the Judiciary”.
Update Tuesday, June 20 at 4:45 p.m. : added the reaction of a magistrate.