The Belgian judicial system
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Transcript of The Belgian judicial system
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The Belgian judicial systemAIAKOS – 25 November 2013
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Belgium, some facts
°1830constitutional monarchy
Þ king PhilippeÞ prime minister
3 official languages: D, F, Garea: 30.528 km²population: 11.000.000slogan: “strength in unity”
Belgium
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Belgium, a federal state1 king1 federal State (= member EU)3 regions (economics, labour market,…)
- Flemish region- Walloon region- Brussels-capital region
3 communities (personal affairs, education,…)
- Flemish community- French community- German-speaking
community
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Belgium, a federal state1 king1 federal State (= member EU)3 regions (economics, labour market,…)
- Flemish region- Walloon region- Brussels-capital region
3 communities (personal affairs, education,…)
- Flemish community- French community- German-speaking
community
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1 king1 federal State (= member EU)3 regions (economics, labour market,…)
- Flemish region- Walloon region- Brussels-capital region
3 communities (personal affairs, education,…)
- Flemish community- French community- German-speaking
community
Belgium, a federal state
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judiciary: federal level3 High Courts:- Court of Cassation- Constitutional
Court- Council of StateÞ Brussels
Lower Courts
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Court of Cassation•power to judge the lawfulness of judicial
decisions▫in general: interpretation/applicability of
the law▫criminal affairs: procedural mistakes
•doesn’t go into the heart of the matter:▫in case of cassation: case referred to a
lower court
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Constitutional Court• 12 judges• watch over the observance of the Constitution• mainly:
▫constitutional antidiscrimination principle▫fundamental human rights▫competence of legislator: power-defining rules
between various legislative bodies• power to overrule the legislator:
▫annulation/suspension of laws▫declaration of unconstitutionallity and suspend
laws, decrees and ordinances infringing on
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Council of State•administrative acts (individual and
statutory)•power to suspend and to annul •contrariety to the legal rules in force•an advisory body in legislative matters
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Piramidal organisation of the jurdiciary(criminal + civil matters)
4 levels:
judges of the peace (225)police tribunals (28)
tribunals of first instance (27) + commercial tribunals+ labour tribunals
courts of appeal (5)+ labour courts
Court of Cassation (1)
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Belgium: 5 judicial areasGhentAntwerpBrusselsMonsLiège
Third level:- courts of appeal- labour courts
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27 judicial districts: at present
Second level:- tribunals of first
Instance- labour tribunals- commercial tribunals- (police tribunals)
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After reform: 12 judicial districts
Second level:- tribunals of first
Instance- labour tribunals- commercial tribunals- (police tribunals)
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187 judicial cantons225 judges of the peace
E.g.: judicial cantons of the judicial district of Bruges
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Criminal law – main principles (1)3 types of crimes:
• crimes sanctioned by criminal penalties▫ imprisonment: 5-30 years or lifelong▫ fine: 156 EUR or more
• crimes sanctioned by correctional penalties▫ imprisonment: 8 days-5 years▫ fine: 156 EUR or more▫ community service: 46-300 hours
• crimes sanctioned by police penalties▫ imprisonment: 1-7 days▫ fine: 1-25 EUR▫ community service: 20-45 hours
+ depenalized “crimes”▫ administrative fine
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Criminal law – main principles (2)procedural guaranties: 2-phased system
• investigation = inquisitorial ▫ public prosecutor / judge of investigation
(+ investigation tribunals)▫ secrecy▫ written proceedings▫ access to a lawyer during interrogations ??? =>
controversial, due to judgements of ECHR
• hearing = contradicatory▫ in public▫ public prosecutor vs. defendant + lawyer▫ penalties
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Civil law – some issues (1)• Civil Code = Code Napoléon (1804)• family matters
▫ marriage between persons of same sex = officially recognised
• contractual affairs▫ equality of parties▫ freedom of agreement▫ but: lots of corrections (e.g. consumer contracts)
• law of tort▫ he who does wrong, has the
obligation to pay compensation▫ equivalence theory:
fault – damage – causuality
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How to become a judge in Belgium?
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How to become a judge in Belgium?• magistrates = public prosecutors + judges• magistrates are appointed for life by the King (governement)• after selection procedure before the Counsel of Justice
▫ independent body▫ composition: magistrates + lawyers + non-magistrates
• kandidates: 3 ways of access to the selection procedure▫ highly experienced lawyers (>20 years at bar)
=> oral examination▫ experienced lawyers (>10/12 years
relevant professional experience) => selective examination
▫ judicial trainees (< 10 years of experience) => comparative examination + evaluation of period of traineeship
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Judicial training in Belgium
• duration of the training▫ public prosecutors: 18 months
(short version)▫ judges: 3 years (long version)
• long version▫ 15 months as a public prosecutor > 9 with full competence▫ 6 months of external training (non-magistrate actors in justice)▫ 15 months at tribunal of first instance
• occasional education at IGO (institute of judicial training)• remunaration (1/2 of salary of an appointed judge)
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THE ENDThanks for your attention!