Cases
1971 Freedom of Association Decision: Birth of French Constitutional Review
The Freedom of Association decision (Décision Liberté d’association, no. 71-44 DC), rendered by the Constitutional Council on 16 July 1971, is the single most important decision in French …
1971 Freedom of Association Decision: Constitutional Principles
The 1971 Freedom of Association decision (Décision Liberté d’association, no. 71-44 DC), rendered by the Constitutional Council on 16 July 1971, is one of the most important decisions in French …
Affaire du Sang Contaminé: State Responsibility and Public Health Scandal
The Contaminated Blood Affair (Affaire du Sang Contaminé) is one of the most serious public health scandals in modern French history. Between 1984 and 1985, the state-run blood transfusion service …
Arrêt Arrighi (1936): Theory of Acte de Gouvernement
The Arrêt Arrighi, decided by the Conseil d’État on 6 November 1936, is a landmark decision concerning the theory of acte de gouvernement (governmental act). The case addressed the …
Arrêt Blanco (1873): Birth of French Administrative Law
The Arrêt Blanco, rendered by the Tribunal des Conflits on 8 February 1873, is the foundational decision of French administrative law. It established that the liability of the state for harm caused by …
Arrêt Blanco (1873): Foundational Administrative Law Case
The Arrêt Blanco, decided by the Tribunal des Conflits on 8 February 1873, is the foundational case of French administrative law. It established the autonomy of administrative law (droit …
Arrêt Nicolo (1989): Supremacy of EU Law
The Arrêt Nicolo, decided by the Conseil d’État on 20 October 1989, is a landmark decision in which the highest French administrative court accepted the supremacy of EU law over subsequent …