Editor’s Note - The Little Liar

Editor’s Note

In France, felonies such as rape are tried in a criminal court known as a cour d’assises. Cases are tried by a panel of three judges (a presiding judge and two associate judges) and a jury of six. Jury selection does not include a voir dire; jurors are drawn at random from the pool of registered voters. Both the prosecution and the defense have the right to refuse a juror without providing a reason. If, after the court hands down a decision, one of the two sides has grounds for appeal, the case goes to another cour d’assises, in another district (département), for a second trial, this time with a jury of nine instead of six, as well as the three-judge panel.