“Slowness must cost the State dearly”: 80 litigants demand nearly a million euros for “unreasonable delays”

Three years to obtain a decision on the fate of the marital home. A year, sometimes more, to hope for a hearing before the family court judge. Up to four years of waiting for an employee who claims payment of compensation before the industrial tribunal. Faced with “systemic” slowness, the Bordeaux bar decided to “hit a big deal” to make judicial slowness a budgetary and political issue.

Since June 2026, 80 summons from the State for “unreasonable delays”, financed by the Bordeaux bar, which brings together 2,300 lawyers, have been brought before the Bordeaux judicial court. “Every litigant has the right to have his case judged within a reasonable time. When this deadline is exceeded, it is possible to sue the State for denial of justice and request compensation,” recalls Marie Tastet, vice-president of Bordeaux. A first hearing was held this week, Tuesday afternoon, with two files examined.