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Article 181-2 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

Where an indictment order of the examining magistrate which is no longer subject to appeal has, with regard to the criminal qualifications retained, mistakenly referred the accused to the assize court instead of the departmental criminal court or vice versa, the president of the examining chamber may, at the request of the public prosecutor or a party, proceed by reasoned order to rectify this error by referring the accused to the competent criminal court.

If the case is referred to the assize court, the time limits set out in article 181 are then applicable.

If the case is referred to the departmental criminal court, the time limits applicable are those provided for in the second paragraph of Article 181-1 from the decision provided for in the first paragraph of this Article, without being able to exceed the time limits provided for in Article 181.

Original in French 🇫🇷
Article 181-2

Lorsqu’une ordonnance de mise en accusation du juge d’instruction qui n’est plus susceptible d’appel a, au regard des qualifications criminelles retenues, renvoyé par erreur l’accusé devant la cour d’assises au lieu de la cour criminelle départementale ou inversement, le président de la chambre de l’instruction peut, sur requête du procureur de la République ou d’une partie, procéder par ordonnance motivée à la rectification de cette erreur en renvoyant l’accusé devant la juridiction criminelle compétente.


Si l’affaire est renvoyée devant la cour d’assises, les délais prévus à l’article 181 sont alors applicables.


Si l’affaire est renvoyée devant la cour criminelle départementale, les délais applicables sont ceux prévus au second alinéa de l’article 181-1 à compter de la décision prévue au premier alinéa du présent article, sans pouvoir dépasser les délais prévus à l’article 181.

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