Decree of September 4, 2026: appointments of magistrates in several courts

A decree dated September 4, 2026, published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0207 on September 5, 2026, carries out a wave of judicial appointments across several courts of appeal and their subordinate jurisdictions. Signed under NOR JUSB2620397D and issued by the Ministry of Justice, this text fills key positions in the judiciary, both in the prosecution (parquet) and the bench (siège), as well as at the General Inspectorate of Justice.

Appointments to the Prosecution and the Bench

The decree appoints magistrates to leadership roles in the courts of appeal of Paris, Versailles, Agen, Bordeaux, Douai, Metz, Montpellier, Toulouse, and Saint-Denis de la Réunion. The appointments concern both prosecution positions (deputy financial prosecutor, advocate general, deputy general prosecutor) and bench functions (chamber president, vice-president, counselor).

Among the primary assignments are:

• Ms. Mathilde BARRACHAT, appointed second-grade deputy financial prosecutor of the Republic at the judicial court of Paris;
• Mr. Jacques-Édouard ANDRAULT, appointed third-grade advocate general at the court of appeal of Agen;
• Ms. Stéphanie FORAX, appointed third-grade chamber president at the court of appeal of Toulouse;
• Ms. Pascale REITZEL, appointed third-grade general inspector of justice at the General Inspectorate of Justice.

Career Paths from Central Administration and Courts

The appointed magistrates come from varied backgrounds, ranging from central administration to courts of first instance. Several were previously stationed at the central administration of the Ministry of Justice, while others practiced in judicial courts or courts of appeal.

Thus, Ms. Lauriane PINARD is appointed second-grade deputy general prosecutor in charge of the general secretariat at the court of appeal of Versailles, and Ms. Agathe HEITZ as vice-president in charge of the general secretariat at the judicial court of Nanterre. Ms. Ludivine TONDEUX becomes vice-president in charge of the general secretariat at the judicial court of Versailles, while Ms. Cécile LONY is appointed third-grade first vice-president in charge of instruction at the judicial court of Lille.

General Secretariat and Prosecution Functions

The decree also fills several general secretariat and prosecution positions within the courts of appeal:

• Ms. Emeline DANNENBERGER, deputy general prosecutor in charge of the general secretariat, second grade, at the court of appeal of Metz;
• Ms. Clémence MEYER, deputy to the prosecutor general, second grade, at the court of appeal of Bordeaux;
• Ms. Émilie ALMERO-BESSAOUD, deputy public prosecutor, second grade, at the judicial court of Montpellier;
• Mr. Simon MAHE, counselor in charge of the general secretariat, second grade, and Ms. Clémence CARON, counselor, second grade, at the court of appeal of Saint-Denis de la Réunion.

Scope of the decision

This decree illustrates the policy of renewing the judiciary’s leadership by entrusting management and general secretariat functions to experienced magistrates, often promoted from one grade to another. By filling strategic positions — the Parisian financial prosecutor’s office, the general inspectorate of justice, chamber presidencies — it has a direct impact on the judicial organization and the functioning of the jurisdictions concerned. The Prime Minister and the Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice, are responsible, each within their respective jurisdiction, for the application of the decree, published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.

Official source: Decree of September 4, 2026, regarding appointments (judiciary), NOR JUSB2620397D, published in JORF No. 0207 of September 5, 2026 (Ministry of Justice).