President of the Supreme Court took part in the opening of the judicial year at the French Court of Cassation

The President of the Supreme Court, Stanislav Kravchenko, took part in the solemn hearing marking the opening of the judicial year for the whole of France. The event, held at the Court of Cassation of France, brought together heads of national and international judicial institutions, high-ranking representatives of the French legislative and executive branches, as well as members of the European legal community.

In his address, the First President of the Court of Cassation of France, Christophe Soulard, emphasized the key role of the judiciary in maintaining democratic balance, protecting human rights and freedoms, and responding to contemporary challenges to the rule of law.

He stressed that amid the rise of populism, pressure on judges, and attempts to discredit judicial decisions, independent justice remains the foundation of a democratic society.

In addition, Christophe Soulard underscored the importance of multilateral cooperation, solidarity among Europe’s judicial institutions, and a shared commitment to the principles of the rule of law at a time when law is increasingly confronted by brute force.

In this context, Christophe Soulard noted the particular significance of the presence at the event of a representative of Ukraine’s judicial system – the President of the Supreme Court, Stanislav Kravchenko.

The address by the First President of the Court of Cassation of France also addressed the growing responsibility of judges to society, the need to adhere to high ethical standards, ensure transparency in the work of courts, and provide well-reasoned judicial decisions. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of courts’ communication with society, the digital transformation of justice, the use of artificial intelligence in compliance with ethical principles, and the development of networked cooperation among courts to ensure the unity of judicial practice.

Concluding his speech, Christophe Soulard emphasized that trust in justice cannot be imposed – it is built through the quality of judicial decisions, the effectiveness of procedures, openness, and continuous dialogue with citizens.

The full text of the address by the First President of the Court of Cassation of France, Christophe Soulard, is available at: https://cutt.ly/VtkQQlrA

The Ukrainian translation of the address prepared by the Supreme Court is available at: https://cutt.ly/0tkQQNR8