“Free finder”, the return? Eric Dupond-Moretti was cleared by the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP) to return to courthouses. The decision on the former attorney general, made on September 3, had gone under the radar of the legal weekly Castle newspaper dig it up on Friday October 11th. As former Minister of Justice, the green light from the body was essential for the resumption of his activity. However, HATVP did not sign him a blank cheque, as whoever was Seal Keeper from July 2020 to September had imposed certain conditions on him.
“The High Authority considers that the project contemplated by Mr. Dupond-Moretti is compatible with the public functions which he has exercised, subject to respect for certain safeguards designed to prevent the risk of calling into question the independent and impartial functioning of the “administration”, specifies the body in its consideration. According to a source in the bar in Paris joined Release, “it’s simply a matter of avoiding the classic conflict of interest”.
Duration of three years
Although the famous lawyer is more used to defending media personalities than companies, Eric Dupond-Moretti, for example, has “prohibition from taking any private enterprise for which he has worked during the three years preceding the intended service as a customer within the scope of his governmental functions”, according to HATVP’s decision.
He is also prohibited from practicing in connection with any matter of which he would have been familiar as a Minister, or from intervening as a lawyer, in matters of advice or litigation, in any matter involving the State, for a period of three year. “In this case, in addition to the conflict of interest, it is also about respecting the lawyers’ duty of sensitivity. It would be very bad form for him to take responsibility for a matter in which he would have intervened publicly as a minister. states the same source at the bar in Paris.
But the institution is open to a possible return of Eric Dupond-Moretti to its ranks. “If he made this choice, we would welcome him with open arms. He is a fantastic lawyer who has done a lot for our profession. say those around the president of the Paris Bar, Pierre Hoffman.
No defense of former government colleagues
In addition, it prohibits courtroom tenor “Carry out any step, including lobbying, with members of the government in office who will have been in office at the same time as him”. Notice to the other survivors of the Attal team who cannot be defended by “acquitters”, if the need arises: Sébastien Lecornu (Army), Agnès Pannier-Runacher (ecological transition), Catherine Vautrin (Territories), Guillaume Kasbarian (Civil Service) , Jean-Noël Barrot (Foreign Affairs) and especially Rachida Dati (Culture).
We could therefore quickly see the former Minister of Justice appear in court again. Unless he has desires elsewhere. In recent weeks, his name has appeared among the hypothetical replacements for Laurent Fabius as chairman of the Constitutional Council. The latter will leave his position in March 2025 after nine years as head of the institution.
Update: at 18.23 changing the attribution of quotes linked to the Paris Bar and adding the reaction of the entourage of the President of the Paris Bar.
