Deputy President Iris Christol denounces “a colossal lack of resources” for family affairs in Montpellier

Iris Christol. Midi Libre – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH

Vice-bâtonnière de l'Ordre des avocats de Montpellier, Iris Christol détaille les conséquences du manque de greffiers et du non remplacement d'une juge aux affaires familiales au tribunal à Montpellier. 

Dans quel état se trouve la justice aux affaires familiales ?

It suffers from a colossal lack of resources. Starting with the registry where around thirty people are missing, out of a workforce of 220. And all we are told is that we may have one person in March!

What are the consequences ?

It takes fifteen or sixteen months for a decision to be rendered, excluding divorce, instead of seven or eight months. While decisions were rendered several months ago, the decisions are still awaiting notification due to a lack of clerks. They must constantly make choices. Litigants who have not slept for a week because of their case go crazy when they learn that they will still have to wait. All this is destructive for staff, for litigants, for confidence in the judicial institution…hellip;

There is also a family court judge on trial…

Placed magistrates are assigned to permanent positions, and are therefore not replaced. But it is on the registry that the pressure is the greatest. We are at the bottom of the wave, waiting for reinforcements in 2025. With the work overload, the rate of absenteeism is increasing. It’s a real vicious circle. We had never experienced such a serious situation in Montpellier.