Éric Dupond-Moretti appeals defamation conviction against magistrate
The former Justice Minister was found guilty of defaming Edouard Levrault, a former investigating judge in Monaco, in his work "J'ai dit oui". He was sentenced to 500 euros in suspended fines and ordered to pay 4,000 euros in damages.
Éric Dupond-Moretti appeals defamation conviction against magistrate
Former Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti announced on Tuesday 23 June his intention to contest his defamation conviction on appeal. The Paris correctional court had found him guilty of damaging the reputation of Édouard Levrault, a former magistrate seconded to Monaco, in his book "J'ai dit oui". This information is reported by France Info.
In this work, the former criminal lawyer accused the judge of having breached judicial secrecy in a case where he himself had intervened as defence counsel. The magistrate had then filed a defamation complaint.
The court imposed on Dupond-Moretti a fine of 500 euros suspended, as well as 4,000 euros in damages and interest to be paid jointly with his publisher Michel Lafon. The appeal suspends the execution of this sentence, restoring the former minister's presumption of innocence in this proceeding.
His counsel, Ms Jacqueline Laffont-Haïk, clarified that her client "firmly contests the reasoning" of the judgment. She also noted that Dupond-Moretti had been discharged on a second direct summons filed by the same magistrate, which concerned remarks made in another work.
This case illustrates the tensions that can exist between the freedom of expression of lawyers and respect for the presumption of innocence and judicial secrecy.
Source: franceinfo - Justice