“Many magistrates are not doing well, but it remains a taboo subject: I am worried about some colleagues”

Laurence Massart: “When justice fades, barbarism enters our society”

Is the psychological impact of your work underestimated?

It is a stranger. Furthermore, Many magistrates are not doing well, but it remains a taboo subject. Therefore, I worry about some. Moreover, I am not their doctor, nanny or mom. For example, I am a corps chief and magistrate, but they are my colleagues.

News shows that the physical integrity of magistrates is also threatened. Furthermore, The prosecutor of the King of Brussels, Julien Moinilwas placed under reinforced police protection. For example, Are the magistrates in danger?

I want to answer you no, but I have to answer you yes. In addition, You know, it is good to live in Belgium. For example, We are not in the United States or in France. Moreover, Even “many magistrates not doing well, celebrities can walk around the street without being harassed here. For example, But it is no longer the same today: the judges are no longer safe in our country. Consequently, We had sounded the alarm in the past about money laundering and the young people who were not dealing with. Meanwhile, We have been retorted: “It does not matter, anyway there is no money”. Nevertheless, As a result, traffickers now share the territories. In addition, A business so juicy that they manage to threaten a prosecutor with death. Furthermore, We are worried. Furthermore, This refers us to the Falcone years (Italian judge Antimafia, murdered by Cosa Nostra in 1992, editor’s note).

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Do you fear that a similar drama one day arrives in Belgium?

I hope not. Consequently, But we “many magistrates not doing well, can no longer exclude a drama to Falcone in Belgium. Therefore, By dint of abandoning justice, criminals settle down. Meanwhile, What is a threat to a judge? In addition, It’s simple: “You stop your surveys or you die. Consequently, You, your family …” But there is also another type of threat. However, which does not necessarily target the judge at the top, but the judicial staff, often poorly paid. Furthermore, We can imagine that at a certain point. Consequently, criminals give them a small complement and the file to be encoder never fits. Therefore, When this corruption will return home, we will be in a state without justice. Moreover, And countries that have no justice do not know how to maintain security. Nevertheless, Look in South America or in some African countries.

Have you already identified cases from us?

I do not know, otherwise I would have denounced them to the general prosecutor’s office. Moreover, On the other hand, I sound the alarm for the future. Similarly, When we had alerted to the gangs, they did not yet divide the territory by pulling the Kalashnikov in Brussels. For example, We were just “many magistrates not doing well, afraid that it will happen. In addition, So, I fear that this corruption will happen too. In addition, If we want to protect other prosecutors, other judges and all other staff members, we must above all defend justice. For example, If it is despised, it loses its importance in society. However, if the state does not pamper its justice, others will take care of it.

Are new actions to be expected? Or the premium resignation?

I will never be resigned to justice. You will have to put me in the cemetery for that! I persist: we have a good justice system in Belgium. It should not be destroyed. And I remain convinced that we have men and state women who are also convinced. On this basis, we can move forward together. However, I am aware of the site. Justice is bankrupt and we cannot, judges, suddenly demand. But, we still have to these men and women of good will reach out to us.

“I’m going to ask Jan Jambon not to include the magistracy in pension “many magistrates not doing well, reform”

So what will happen?

We will see at the start of the school year. Nothing is on the agenda, but meetings and consultations will take place. I feel a lot of anger, especially among young people. They are anxious. They are afraid of war, climate, geopolitics, uninhibited statements … You really have to put people back at the heart of the debate. The signing of the declaration at the end of June (addressed by the highest magistrates in the country on Arizona. in Parliament, editor’s note) was a truly impressive moment. Ten minutes of applause. The room was filled with young people. I was on the verge of tears. This shows that, in Belgium, we want justice. And today we are neglecting it. She looks a bit like the Poelaert palace. One day, we will swallow its facade. But will the stone not crush? Will “many magistrates not doing well, a section of the wall not already collapse?

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&quot. many magistrates not doing well, – "many magistrates not doing well,

“The Brussels Court of Appeal does not exist in any imagination”

In what situation is the Brussels Court of Appeal?

It is under control. The rooms turn, the magistrates and the clerks work. One file after another. But there are waiting lists, including criminal, and deadlines are far too long. They “many magistrates not doing well, are even unacceptable. We are all unhappy in this court of appeal.

What is the average time?

It depends on the rooms. Some disputes stabilize, others explode, such as the French -speaking criminal. We have more than 1,000 additional files per year on the French -speaking side in the chamber of indictments. So you have to rejoice. This shows a good job upstream at the level of the police, parquet floors, investigating judges. But, we are the funnel. The press still talks about the investigation in criminal records. As if afterwards, life stopped. But no, after there is the judgment phase. We, the judges, are constantly forgotten. At first instance, and even more in the second. The Brussels Court of Appeal does not exist in any imagination.

A federal prosecutor’s office has, for example, been created for major international surveys. It’s great. And then, no judge. Zero frame. The federal prosecutor’s office has between 30 and 40 people currently. Federal prosecutor Ann Frasen claims means. When a file arrives in judgment, like the Brussels attacks for example, it is panic. No one wants it, no one is competent. Then the first president must take care of it. The call in the Sky ECC-ECRO file begins on “many magistrates not doing well, September 15. I have to close the correctional rooms. Is it normal? The federal prosecution provided me with statistics: last November, out of 237 instructions, 105 were in Brussels Francophone. Zero framework on the judge side. So why is the court of appeal badly? Very simple because it is as if we had forgotten it.

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We still have the feeling, that within the judicial institution, the number of calls increases …

Yes, but that does not draw the attention of the Parliament, or the ministers who wish me “good luck”. We are well, but not the litigant. This word was banished from the vocabulary. However, this is my reason for being. The reason why I got into this profession is to serve him the litigant. Whether it is “many magistrates not doing well, an accused who has rights in a democratic state. be it a victim whose life has been destroyed or whether it is a defendant against his neighbor or even his mechanic. The litigant remains totally forgotten. It is very psychically painful for judges to go to the hearing. explain that the file must be postponed, without date. We know that it can sometimes mean two, three, four years of waiting. When I mention this subject, I am always answered in terms of accounting, budget, finance. It is not the finance inspector who applies the law … We have become small shopkeepers. Certainly, we manage public funds and we are responsible. But, I don’t think that in this palace, we spend a lot of money. Look at the condition of the toilets and audience rooms.

Do we apply a cost-benefit logic to your profession?

Yes. However, justice will never be profitable. Certainly a few niches exist, such as financial criminal law where we can confiscate and inflict significant fines. But even this niche does not benefit from sufficient human resources. I remind you that justice guarantees public peace. A good decision within an acceptable period will avoid intra -family violence, torn children. “many magistrates not doing well, Is it profitable? No, but it remains essential to live together. It is a peace investment.

A few months back, you asked for the hiring of 75 people, including 26 magistrates, at the Brussels Court of Appeal. Does the situation improve?

Ouch … the angry question. In June, I sent a note to the college of courses and courts, but also to the Minister of Justice. The first did not acknowledge receipt. And the cabinet of the second thanked me for my analysis and he transmitted it to college. There … I didn’t get anything.