According to local media reports, the State Council considered an appeal against the adoption by the National Association of France Lawyers proposals to ban on the wearing of lawyers of various symbols, including head scarves.
In its decision adopted this week, the State Council argued that Article 3 of the Law regulating the profession of a lawyer, which provides for the obligatory wearing of a single clothing, also does not allow people who practice this profession to wear distinctive symbols.
The State Council ruled that, having accepted the relevant proposal, the Association provided information on how the provisions of the current law will apply.
Having stated that unified clothing for all lawyers does not allow them to reflect any personal preferences, except for protecting the interests of their customers, the State Council concluded that single clothing for lawyers helps to ensure equality between the participants in the trial and is a “prerequisite for the right to fair trial”.
In September 2023, the National Association of Lawyers of France adopted a proposal to ban various symbols for lawyers, including the head scarf.
The proposal included a ban on wearing by lawyers “distinguishing symbols”, except for the mantle.
France’s lawyers syndicate appealed to the State Council with a request to suspend this decision of the Association on the grounds that the ban violates the independence of lawyers.