“He left us while in a lawyer’s robe, he was practicing his profession. He was 45 years old.” Arnaud Bouriant, lawyer at the Paris bar, died of a heart attack while he was in a courtroom at the Aix-en-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône) Court of Appeal, Monday 8 november. In a press release, his cabinet, Ader-Jolibois, salutes the memory of a “epicurean, art lover, profoundly human”.
The circumstances of his death caused a stir in the profession. “We think first of all of his family and loved ones with great emotion. The time is for mourning and contemplation”, tweeted the president of Paris, Olivier Cousi. Other lawyers were offended on Twitter that the hearing could continue despite this event.
Condolences to the family of Arnaud Bouriant. The decision to continue the hearing after the death of our colleague is unworthy https://t.co/pZauTNRFpp
— Serendipity (@Seren___dipity) November 8, 2021
… and the hearing continued during this time, simply moving it to an adjoining room, because we are not going to suspend the proceedings for a 45-year-old lawyer on whom we put a shroud.
We would have had more consideration for a beast. https://t.co/5b6Gg7qrxM
— AuPalais (@palais_au) November 8, 2021
In a press release, the heads of court and the president of the bar of Aix-en-Provence specify the course of the facts: the lawyer was taken unwell at 2:10 p.m., while he was in room number 7, where was to begin at 2:30 p.m. a civil litigation hearing with a dozen lawyers from different regions. “His client and the lawyers present called the court security service, who contacted the fire brigade.”
The latter, who arrived at 2:25 p.m., provided first aid, before handing over to the emergency medical services. Despite attempts at resuscitation, the lawyer was pronounced dead at 3:15 p.m. and his body was covered with a white shroud pending the arrival of the funeral directors.
As soon as the illness occurs, “we warned the magistrates of the court who went to another room of the court to hold the hearing. It was held because we did not know that he was dead”specifies to franceinfo Philippe Bruzzo, president of Aix-en-Provence. “The hearing had started so it continued, but his case was adjourned. These are two different stories”he fumes, calling for “a little respect, dignity and serenity”.
Philippe Bruzzo has received, Tuesday morning, the partner ofArnaud Bouriant, his wife and relatives. A minute of silence was observed at the beginning of the afternoon during the hearing of the first chamber, in the presence of all the magistrates of the court and the clerks. On Twitter, the cabinet of the deceased also calls for calm and an end to the controversy.
2/2 The Court hearing was not open at the time of my friend and partner Arnaud Bouriant’s illness. The courtroom was therefore evacuated before any hearing was held. There was therefore no breach of dignity and humanity in this tragedy.
— ader (@adererictwitt) November 9, 2021
