Abstract:
Two lawyers talking about their experiences in the law court. Daumier must have been quite familiar with the old judicial system in France. Normally three judges were required in a hearing, accompanied by the "Procureur Impérial" (prosecutor). The jury was usually seated along a side wall while the prisoner's bench was placed opposite to the judges. In important cases, the prisoner was flanked by two policemen. The defending advocate usually was seated in front of the prisoner, facing the judges. The hearings were open to the public and represented a welcome entertainment to Parisians, free of charge.
The judges, as well as the Procureur Impérial were appointed by the Ministry of Justice; they were not always free from political influence and conviction. The prosecutor held the rank of a magistrate, but wore slightly different robes than the judges.
