Paris riot trials: Dozens face immediate hearings amid judicial strain

Dozens of immediate appearance trials were held Tuesday at the Paris judicial court following Saturday's riots, with proceedings marked by a tense atmosphere and heavy security. The court operated in crisis mode, using four courtrooms instead of the usual two to handle around sixty cases in a single afternoon. The trials concerned adults only, as minors, who make up most suspects, are excluded from this procedure. Paris accounted for 35% of France's 2,400 arrests on Saturday, and the congestion created organizational chaos, with magistrates and lawyers juggling cases. Defense lawyers criticized pressure from Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin demanding "firmness," with one lawyer denouncing political interference in judicial decisions. Early decisions showed severity, including a 20-year-old sentenced to two months in prison for carrying a knife and messages about attacking police, and a 19-year-old Tunisian detained pending trial for throwing projectiles. However, some defendants received judicial supervision instead of detention, and lawyers pointed to flawed procedures. One defendant accused police of fabricating evidence, while another claimed "group effect" for looting, having been found with stolen goods and videos of himself inside stores.