The Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal shall review cases already heard by a court of the judicial system. The files are analyzed on the facts and on the procedure.

It may confirm, vary or set aside the decision of the courts of first instance. The decisions it renders are called stops.

There are 36 appeals courts in France. Each has jurisdiction to review judgments rendered in its territory (for example, the Paris Court of Appeal has jurisdiction in 9 departments, including Paris, Essonne or Seine Saint Denis).

To appeal, you have to respect precise rules (example: timeliness, assistance from a lawyer).

Ministry of Justice

The Court of Cassation

The Court of Cassation is the highest court of the judicial system. There is only one in France.

In order to seize this jurisdiction, it is necessary to respect precise rules (example: timeliness, assistance from a lawyer).

The main competence of the Court of Cassation is to deal with the appeal in cassation formed by a attorney general or by any person who wishes to contest:

- One judgment of first and last resort issued by a court (for example, civil litigation involving amounts less than or equal to €5,000)

- Or a judgment of the Court of Appeal.

The Court of Cassation don't judge the facts but checks whether courts and appellate courts have complied with the law (french, european and international).

That court shall give judgments:

- Dismissal where it considers that the appeal on a point of law is unfounded and that the courts on the merits have complied with the law

- Cassation where it considers that the appeal is justified and that one or more rules of law have been infringed.

Court of Cassation