Visit to Cour de Cessation in France by Chief Judge of IP High Court
On September 22, Chief Judge Ryuichi Shitara toured the Cour de Cessation (equivalent to the Supreme Court) in France together with Judge Richard Hacon of the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) from the UK and attorneys from Japan, Germany, and the UK, who would participate in the Europe/Japan Mock Trial to be held on the following day, by courtesy of Judge Sophie Darbois and Judge Alaine Giralde of the Cour de Cessation. The Cour de Cessation called Palais de Justice (Palace of Justice) is located in the Ile de la Cite in Paris and is the oldest existing palace building in France. In the Ile de la Cite, buildings such as Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie still also exist. The dignity with history and luxuriousness are as shown in pictures (hereinafter referred to as “Picture 1”, “Picture 2”, from the top).
Picture 1 shows the council room for judges of the Chambre Civile of the Cour de Cessation. The paintings on the wall and the decorations on the ceiling are very impressive and it is interesting that personal computers for 15 judges are stored in the central drawers. In the council room, the abovementioned two judges of the Cour de Cessation introduced the Cour de Cessation, "saisie-contrefaçon" which is the procedure for collection of evidence, and recent judgments related to the procedure.
Picture 2 shows the court, and the portrait of Napoleon displayed behind a judge’s desk is impressive.
Picture 3 shows the corridor where there is the statue of Louis IX (Saint Louis) who built Sainte-Chapelle (Picture 3 also shows the abovementioned four judges from France, the UK, and Japan).
Picture 4 shows the court of the Chambre Criminelle and it is impressive that each desk and chair for so many judges have been arranged (Picture 4 also shows many officials of the Cour de Cessation and people involved in the Europe/Japan Mock Trial to be held on the following day).