Paris court rushes riot trials, lawyers decry political pressure

Dozens of immediate appearance trials were held Tuesday at the Paris judicial court following Saturday's riots, with proceedings marked by tension and organizational chaos. The court operated in crisis mode, using four courtrooms instead of the usual two to handle roughly sixty cases in a single afternoon. Paris accounted for 35% of France's 2,400 arrests on October 17, creating a congested and confused atmosphere. Lawyers expressed concerns about expedited justice, citing pressure from Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin for firmness. Some defendants received jail time, including a 20-year-old carrying a knife and a 19-year-old who threw projectiles at police, while others faced detention requests despite clean records. Defense attorneys challenged the proceedings, with Me Arié Alimi denouncing ministerial interference in judicial independence. One lawyer claimed harsher sentencing was driven by public and political pressure rather than legal merit. Cases included alleged looters, with one man facing 18 months for stealing shoes and another two years for possessing stolen sunglasses.