French Bar Council condemns threats against lead judge in Marine Le Pen trial

The French National Bar Council on Tuesday condemned threats against the lead judge in the trial of far-right leader Marine Le Pen – resulting in both prison time and a ban from seeking public office – stressing that judicial independence is a pillar of the rule of law.

In a statement, the council, which represents all lawyers practicing in France, denounced "attacks targeting the president of the 11th criminal chamber of the Paris judicial court."

"Challenging a court decision is legitimate; however, threats against judges are unacceptable," the statement said, reiterating that "judicial independence is a cornerstone of the rule of law."

The statement was released amid growing concerns over threats against Benedicte de Perthuis, the judge who presided over the case involving fake parliamentary assistant jobs linked to Le Pen's National Rally party.

The threats surfaced following Monday's decision to sentence Le Pen to five years of ineligibility for public office, with immediate effect, and four years in prison, including two years under electronic surveillance.

On Monday, the First Presidency of the Paris Court of Appeal called for "respect for the judiciary" as personal attacks against the three judges in the case escalated on social media.

"The First President of the Paris Court of Appeal expresses deep concern and reiterates that in a democratic state governed by the rule of law, criticism of a court ruling must never take the form of threats against judges," the court said in a statement.

France's High Council for the Judiciary also warned that such reactions "severely undermine the independence of the judiciary, which is a fundamental principle of the rule of law."

Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, declining to comment on the ruling itself, said that "threats against the judges of the Paris judicial court are unacceptable in a democracy and raise serious concerns about judicial independence."

Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party, linked the threats to broader political tensions.

"After weeks of death threats and attacks against left-wing lawmakers and activists, now it is judges who are being targeted. Perhaps it is time to recognize that the real threat to this country comes from the far right and its militias, not from leftist activists and their democratic actions," he wrote on X.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou on Tuesday defended judicial independence while raising concerns about the immediate enforcement of certain sentences, including the one handed down to Marine Le Pen.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Bayrou emphasized that government officials should not criticize court rulings and expressed "unconditional" support for magistrates. However, he questioned the lack of an appeal process for significant criminal sentences that could have irreversible consequences.

Citing past cases, he said his position was not specific to Le Pen's conviction but part of a broader legal principle ensuring court decisions remain subject to review.