Autumn Session Formal Sitting of the Courts

© Manuel Vitali - Direction de la Communication

The traditional Autumn Session Formal Sitting of the Courts was held at the Palais de Justice on Friday 1 October, in the presence of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince, together with the Head of the Department of Justice. The Minister of State, the Archbishop of Monaco, the President of the National Council and numerous other dignitaries were also in attendance. The sitting was preceded by a celebration of the Mass of the Holy Spirit at Monaco Cathedral.

The formal sitting marks the beginning of the 2021/2022 judicial year.

In her introductory words, Brigitte Grinda-Gambarini, First President of the Court of Appeal, discussed the previous year’s judicial activities, recalling all of the achievements and reforms implemented, such as the signature of a memorandum of understanding with France on combatting terrorism and the creation of a Monegasque Institute for Training in the Legal Professions by Sovereign Ordinance No. 8.609, dated 12 April 2021. “A year that was almost normal compared with the one that came before it, and yet which nonetheless unfolded in the protracted context of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said as she embarked on her fortieth and final judicial year.

The opening speech on the theme of “The Supreme Court, a famous unknown” was given by Didier Linotte, President of the Supreme Court.

Finally, Sylvie Petit-Leclair, the Public Prosecutor, spoke about the work that had been accomplished in the previous year by the judges in the Public Prosecution Department, highlighting efforts to combat serious financial crime requiring complex and time-consuming investigations, and efforts to improve gender equality.