MANAGÉRIALISATION ET MANAGÉRIALISATION ET TERRITOIRES DE JUSTICETERRITOIRES DE JUSTICELES CAS FRANÇAIS ET BELGESLES CAS FRANÇAIS ET BELGES

Joël Ficet Joël Ficet University of Liège - BelgiumUniversity of Liège - Belgium

THE NEW GEOGRAPHY OF JUSTICE IN THE NEW GEOGRAPHY OF JUSTICE IN FRANCE AND BELGIUMFRANCE AND BELGIUMA MATTER OF “GOOD MANAGEMENT” ?A MATTER OF “GOOD MANAGEMENT” ?

Joël Ficet Joël Ficet University of Liège - BelgiumUniversity of Liège - Belgium

Introduction Introduction

The rise of New Public Management in judicial The rise of New Public Management in judicial systemssystems The governance of judicial systems in Western Europe is The governance of judicial systems in Western Europe is

increasingly determined by managerial values and increasingly determined by managerial values and techniques. techniques.

Influence on the judicial geography in France and Influence on the judicial geography in France and BelgiumBelgium

Judicial Map reforms in France and BelgiumJudicial Map reforms in France and Belgium Divergent trajectories, unequal successDivergent trajectories, unequal success Opposite “policy styles”Opposite “policy styles”

The Rise of NPM in Judicial The Rise of NPM in Judicial SystemsSystems

The normalization of the “third power”The normalization of the “third power” A derogatory organization A derogatory organization The shift of perception of justice as a specific The shift of perception of justice as a specific

part of the Statepart of the State New values for Justice : efficiency, performance, New values for Justice : efficiency, performance,

accountability, customer-orientation…accountability, customer-orientation… Judicial Map Reforms and New Public Judicial Map Reforms and New Public

ManagementManagement A common objective : decentralizing the courts’ A common objective : decentralizing the courts’

managementmanagement The “optimal scale” issueThe “optimal scale” issue

France Belgium

1995 →→ decentralization of the management at the level of the Court of appeal.2006 →→ implementation of a performance-budgeting system (“LOLF”) in the judicial system.2007 →→ reform of the judicial map (“Dati reform”). Suppression of 341 courts out of 1190.2009 →→ creation of logistical platforms taking over all back office tasks from courts

2005 →→ project for a decentralization of the management at the level of the Courts of appeal (plan “Themis”). 2006 →→ plan “Themis II”.2008 →→ project “Reconfiguration of the Judicial Organization”, elaborated by the High Council for Justice.2008 →→ project “Modernisation of the Prosecution”, elaborated by the College of prosecutors.2009 →→ project “A new architecture for Justice”

Policy styles Policy styles and Judicial Map and Judicial Map ReformsReforms

Opposite attitudes towards problem-solvingOpposite attitudes towards problem-solving Belgium: a « consociational » regime (A. Lijphart)Belgium: a « consociational » regime (A. Lijphart) France: a « westminsterian » regimeFrance: a « westminsterian » regime

Opposite relations between government and Opposite relations between government and professionnal elitesprofessionnal elites Belgium: a quasi-corporatismBelgium: a quasi-corporatism France : confrontation and marginalization of the France : confrontation and marginalization of the

judiciary in the decision-making processjudiciary in the decision-making process Results Results

clash of interests and endless negotiation in Belgium,clash of interests and endless negotiation in Belgium, authoritarian change in Franceauthoritarian change in France