“The court delivers judgments and not services.”
Éric de Montgolfier recounts his career in the service of justice. He tells us about the different cases where political power tried to influence his decisions. As a good lawyer, he details the facts, the causes, and the consequences. He opens up his files to us, figuratively speaking of course, as he has too much respect for the law. Law and truth sometimes don’t mix well; he will have to decide for the best.
Besides the case of the match between Marseille and Valenciennes, there are the troubles of Bernard Tapie. Then, the icing on the cake, are the peculiar ways of the Nice judiciary where Éric de Montgolfier finds himself dealing with local officials, business matters, arrangements, and a complacent judge against whom he must fight.
As the public prosecutor, he must defend the interests of the State and the community against those of individuals. He can thus say at the end of his book: “The court delivers judgments and not services.”
The title is very well chosen: THE DUTY TO DISPLEASE. Indeed, he will displease the elected officials and local institutions. This prosecutor is incorruptible, and those infamous arrangements are nowhere in his vocabulary. There is the law, and his duty is to serve it.
An enlightening book about the inner workings of justice where we might not all be truly equal. Éric de Montgolfier tried to address this, and the political power then… In defiance of the separation of powers, but that is another debate.
A book to read to better understand the behind-the-scenes of the Nice courts.
Thierry Jan
