Key Moments: Judicial Milestones

1958: Constitutional Council creation introduces limited constitutional review.

1971: "Freedom of Association" decision establishes Constitutional Council as rights protector.

1981: Abolition of death penalty despite public opposition demonstrates judicial-political interaction.

1990s: Major corruption investigations (Elf, Crédit Lyonnais) show investigating magistrates' independence.

2010: QPC introduction revolutionizes constitutional review access.

2013: Prosecutor independence debates intensify after European Court decisions.

2020: Court reorganization aims for 21st-century justice.