On March 31, 2025, Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis made headlines by sentencing Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN), to four years in prison, including two years suspended, and an immediate five-year ban from holding public office. This landmark decision stems from her involvement in a case concerning the embezzlement of funds related to parliamentary assistants, a ruling that could significantly impact Le Pen's ambitions for the 2027 presidential election.
Bénédicte de Perthuis, a 63-year-old magistrate with a specialization in financial matters, presided over the trial that took place from September 30 to November 27, 2024. During the proceedings, she displayed a firm demeanor, often reminding defendants, including Le Pen, that they were in a court of law, not a political arena. "Here, we are not in politics, we are in front of a court," she asserted during a particularly tense moment on November 6, 2024.
Le Pen's conviction has sparked a wave of criticism, particularly from right-wing and far-right politicians, who have labeled the ruling as politically motivated. In her first public response to the verdict, Le Pen claimed that the decision was designed to prevent her from running and being elected in the upcoming presidential election. She described the ruling as a "political decision" and vowed to appeal, stating, "The rule of law has been completely violated by the decision that was rendered."
Judge de Perthuis's career has been marked by her commitment to justice and her expertise in handling complex financial cases. She began her professional journey in an audit firm and later passed the magistracy exam at the age of 37, inspired by the renowned financial judge Eva Joly. Her judicial career has included roles as a family affairs judge in Le Havre and a judge in the 11th correctional chamber of the Paris court, where she focused on financial crimes.
Throughout her tenure, de Perthuis has presided over high-profile cases, including the trial of Claude Guéant, a former Interior Minister, who was convicted of corruption in 2015, and the recent trial of a trader dubbed the Madoff of Maine-et-Loire for fraud. In 2022, she oversaw the sentencing of Ernest-Antoine Seillière, the former president of Medef, for massive tax fraud.
However, the recent ruling against Le Pen has also placed de Perthuis in the crosshairs of threats and intimidation. Following the verdict, she became the target of numerous threats, prompting authorities to increase police presence around her home. An investigation was launched in January 2025 into death threats posted on the far-right website Riposte laïque, specifically targeting de Perthuis and two other magistrates involved in the case. The Paris public prosecutor's office condemned these threats, emphasizing that targeting individuals who embody the judicial institution is unacceptable.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin weighed in on the situation, calling the threats "unacceptable in a democracy" and expressing concern for the independence of the judicial authority. He stated that such intimidation undermines the very foundation of democratic society and the rule of law.
The first president of the Paris Court of Appeal also expressed his dismay over the personal attacks directed at the magistrates, highlighting the importance of respecting the judicial institution in a democratic state. He noted that while criticism of judicial decisions is permissible, it should never manifest as threats against judges.
As the dust settles from this historic ruling, the implications for Marine Le Pen and the Rassemblement National are profound. With an immediate five-year ban from holding office, her aspirations for the presidency in 2027 are now in jeopardy. The political landscape in France is shifting, and the fallout from this case will likely resonate throughout the upcoming election cycle.
In the wake of the verdict, public discourse around judicial independence and the safety of judges has intensified. The threats against de Perthuis serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those in the judiciary, particularly when their decisions intersect with the political arena.
As Bénédicte de Perthuis continues to navigate the complexities of her role in the judiciary, her commitment to upholding the law remains steadfast. The legal community and the public will be watching closely as Le Pen's appeal unfolds and as the broader implications of this case develop in the coming months.
