The Belgian judicial system

1. The Belgianjudicial system AIAKOS – 25 November 2013

2. Belgium, somefacts • °1830 • constitutionalmonarchy • king Philippe • prime minister • 3 official languages: D, F, G • area: 30.528 km² • population: 11.000.000 • slogan: “strength in unity” Belgium

3. Belgium, a federal state • 1 king • 1 federal State (= member EU) • 3 regions (economics, labour market,…) • Flemishregion • Walloonregion • Brussels-capitalregion • 3 communities (personal affairs, education,…) • Flemish community • French community • German-speaking community

4. Belgium, a federal state • 1 king • 1 federal State (= member EU) • 3 regions (economics, labour market,…) • Flemishregion • Walloonregion • Brussels-capitalregion • 3 communities (personal affairs, education,…) • Flemish community • French community • German-speaking community

5. Belgium, a federal state • 1 king • 1 federal State (= member EU) • 3 regions (economics, labour market,…) • Flemishregion • Walloonregion • Brussels-capitalregion • 3 communities (personal affairs, education,…) • Flemish community • French community • German-speaking community

6. judiciary: federal level • 3 High Courts: • Court of Cassation • Constitutional Court • Council of State • Brussels • Lower Courts

7. Court of Cassation • power tojudge the lawfulness of judicialdecisions • in general: interpretation/applicability of the law • criminalaffairs: proceduralmistakes • doesn’t go into the heart of the matter: • in case of cassation: case referredto a lower court

8. 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 unconstitutionallityand suspend laws, decrees and ordinances infringing on

9. 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

10. Piramidalorganisation of the jurdiciary(criminal + civilmatters) 4 levels: Court of Cassation (1) courts of appeal (5) + labour courts tribunals of first instance (27) + commercial tribunals + labour tribunals judges of the peace (225) police tribunals (28)

11. Belgium: 5 judicialareas Ghent Antwerp Brussels Mons Liège • Third level: • courts of appeal • labourcourts

12. 27 judicialdistricts: at present • Second level: • tribunals of first Instance • labourtribunals • commercial tribunals • (policetribunals)

13. After reform: 12 judicial districts • Second level: • tribunals of first Instance • labourtribunals • commercial tribunals • (policetribunals)

14. 187 judicialcantons 225 judges of the peace E.g.: judicialcantons of the judicial district of Bruges

15. Criminallaw – mainprinciples (1) 3 types of crimes: • crimes sanctionedbycriminalpenalties • imprisonment: 5-30 years or lifelong • fine: 156 EUR or more • crimes sanctionedbycorrectionalpenalties • imprisonment: 8 days-5 years • fine: 156 EUR or more • community service: 46-300 hours • crimes sanctionedbypolicepenalties • imprisonment: 1-7 days • fine: 1-25 EUR • community service: 20-45 hours + depenalized “crimes” • administrative fine

16. Criminallaw – mainprinciples (2) proceduralguaranties: 2-phased system • investigation = inquisitorial • public prosecutor / judge of investigation(+ investigationtribunals) • secrecy • writtenproceedings • access to a lawyerduringinterrogations ??? => controversial, duetojudgements of ECHR • hearing = contradicatory • in public • public prosecutor vs. defendant + lawyer • penalties

17. Civillaw – some issues (1) • Civil Code = Code Napoléon (1804) • family matters • marriage between persons of samesex = officiallyrecognised • contractualaffairs • equality of parties • freedom of agreement • but: lots of corrections (e.g. consumercontracts) • law of tort • he who does wrong, has the obligationtopaycompensation • equivalencetheory: fault – damage – causuality

18. How tobecome a judgein Belgium?

20. How tobecome a judgein Belgium? • magistrates = public prosecutors + judges • magistrates are appointedfor life by the King (governement) • afterselection procedure before the Counsel of Justice • independent body • composition: magistrates + lawyers + non-magistrates • kandidates: 3 ways of access to the selection procedure • highlyexperiencedlawyers (>20 years at bar) => oral examination • experiencedlawyers (>10/12 yearsrelevant professional experience) => selective examination • judicial trainees (< 10 years of experience) => comparative examination + evaluation of period of traineeship

21. Judicial training in Belgium • durationof 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 • occasionaleducation at IGO (institute of judicial training) • remunaration (1/2 of salary of anappointedjudge)

22. THE END Thanksforyour attention!