The different levels of jurisdiction



The fact that France has a double level of jurisdiction indicates that it is possible to request the re-examination of a dispute already judged by another court qualified as a court of first instance before a higher jurisdiction, the court of second instance, so that its may be judged again in fact and in law. However, it is not possible to appeal a decision of the Tribunal d'Instance for matters involving amounts less than FRF 13,000. This also applies to decisions in more serious criminal cases rendered by assize courts (cours d'assises).

In France there is a judge who rules on the legality of court decisions: the Cour de Cassation at the head of the ordinary court structure (comparable to judicial review by the divisional court in the UK or the Supreme Court in the U.S.) and the Conseil d'Etat for appeals of decisions rendered by the Administrative Courts.