French Court Upholds Ban on Religious Symbols for Lawyers in Courtrooms

The case was brought by a trainee lawyer wearing the hijab, who had challenged in 2019 a rule established by the Lille bar association, in northern France, prohibiting religious and political markers in courtrooms on the grounds that it was discriminatory.

"The lawyer cannot wear with the robe any decoration or sign manifestly showing a religious, philosophical, community or political affiliation," the regulations state. A point that the plaintiffs considered an infringement of religious freedom and discrimination.

On Wednesday, the ruling of the Court of Cassation was handed down: banning the wearing of religious symbols "does not constitute discrimination," it said, specifying that this decision is "necessary and appropriate, on the one hand, to preserve the independence of the lawyer, and on the other hand, to guarantee the right to a fair trial."

In July 2020, the Douai Court of Appeal had ruled that the Lille Bar Association had acted legally. A provision that has now been confirmed by the Court of Cassation.