The business continuity plan of the courts during the health crisis

The health crisis has had unprecedented effects on the functioning of the state and society, including the organisation of public services. At the request of the Finance Committee of the National Assembly, the Court investigated the actions of the Ministry of Justice to ensure the continuity of judicial courts. The Ministry was not prepared for such a large episode: Its crisis management plans were still under development and insufficient resources were allocated. This resulted in an interruption of the functioning of the courts during the first confinement, with the exception of more urgent litigation, an unprecedented event in the history of justice. The recovery of activity has also been difficult, with a slowdown in activity, though uneven depending on the place and type of litigation. This has had an impact on the quality of justice rendered and on the care of sensitive audiences. While the crisis has revealed long-standing weaknesses, the Ministry of Justice can draw useful lessons and speed up its transformation. With this in mind, the Court makes eight recommendations.