Interim leadership of the National School for the Judiciary

Haffide Boulakras, deputy director of the École nationale de la magistrature (ENM), has been serving as the acting director of the institution since October 7, 2026. He was assigned this mission by a decree from the Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice dated the same day, published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0236 on October 9, 2026, under reference NOR: JUSB2626563A. The interim period will continue until the designation and appointment of the new director.

The official text, titled “Decree of October 7, 2026, regarding the attribution of functions of the director of the École nationale de la magistrature,” specifies that Mr. Boulakras had until now served as the deputy director in charge of continuing education, the international department, and the department of specialized professional training. The decree grants him “all the powers inherent to the function” of director. No fixed deadline is mentioned: the vacancy ends with the appointment of the next incumbent.

An interim open until the appointment of the new director

The chosen wording is one of continuity of service: the interim takes effect “as of October 7, 2026,” the same day the decree was signed, and extends “until the designation and appointment of the new director.” The arrangement therefore sets neither a maximum duration nor a deadline, leaving the transition period at the head of the school open.

The choice fell upon a member of the management already in post, in charge of continuing education and the international and specialized professional training departments. This continuity avoids a vacancy at the head of an institution whose training activities take place throughout the year.

A school at the heart of magistrate training

The ENM is the institution responsible for the initial and continuing training of magistrates of the judicial order, as well as the recruitment of trainees (auditeurs de justice). The direction of the school is therefore a sensitive position, directly affecting the preparation of future judges and prosecutors.

The Official Journal has published several acts concerning the school in recent weeks, a sign of sustained activity:

• Decree of August 13, 2026, appointing Pauline Dubarry, Deputy Director in charge of recruitment, initial training, and research, and Olivier Weisphal, Sub-Director of recruitment and skills validation, as members of the evaluation committee for the experiment of the first special competition for the recruitment of justice trainees, effective September 1, 2026.
• Secondment of Xavier Martinen, second-grade magistrate, as Sub-Director of Studies, for three years effective September 1, 2026.
• Secondments of training coordinators, including Edward Baugniet, Aurélia D’Agostino, and Alexandre Gantois, for three years effective September 1, 2026.
• Secondments of regional training coordinators, including Audrey Berrier, Anne-Claire Cusey, Céline Fassey, Alice Gardair, and Alan Trousseau.
• Secondments of training coordinators, prosecution profile, Louise Deroubaix and Alma Laplace, and retention of Leslie Pourlanc as officer in charge of initial training.

A Standard Legal Framework

The decree follows the usual practice of the Ministry of Justice regarding management vacancies: an official already in office assumes the interim role and all duties of the position until the appointment process is completed. The text is signed by the Keeper of the Seals and published in the Official Journal under reference NOR: JUSB2626563A.

The scope of this publication is twofold. It makes the interim appointment enforceable and legally secures the acts taken by Mr. Boulakras at the head of the school during the transition. It also indicates that the appointment of the next director of the ENM has not yet occurred, leaving the institution steered by an acting director whose mandate remains open.