Bordeaux Bar reconfirms strike over the ‘SURE’ criminal justice bill, 22 April–19 May 2026

The Bordeaux Bar Council has voted to continue a general lawyers' strike from 22 April to 19 May 2026 across all sectors (civil, criminal, commercial, labour and administrative law, plus suspension of legal-aid designations except for child-protection cases) in opposition to the "Justice criminelle et respect des victimes" bill (the "SURE" bill) backed by the Justice Minister. The Bar criticises the proposed introduction of a prior guilty-plea procedure for serious criminal offences — described as "fast-food justice" — which would allow conviction on the basis of confession alone, without public debate, witnesses, experts or a jury. The bill went to first reading in the Senate on 13 April 2026.