Unlike the brisk pace of the correctional court, the Cour d’assises feels almost cinematic. Reserved for the gravest offenses—rape, attempted murder, homicide—it is the apex of criminal trial practice in France. And it is here, before professional judges and citizen jurors, that Me Nicolas PAGANELLI often leads some of the most emotionally and legally complex cases in the country.

On this particular day, the court heard a case involving aggravated assault with long-term disability. Me PAGANELLI’s client was the accused. The stakes? 15 years in prison.

But unlike the Tribunal correctionnel, where structure and file dominate, the Cour d’assises demands something more: storytelling. Here, the entire investigation is replayed from the beginning—a real-time reconstruction. Witnesses are recalled, forensic experts cross-examined, and every emotion weighs heavy on the jurors' conscience.

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“Truth emerges from the contradictions,” Me PAGANELLI notes. “At the Assises, it’s no longer about what was written—it’s about what is heard, seen, and felt.”

Throughout the morning, his cross-examinations are surgical. The forensic doctor hesitates, slightly undermining the prosecution’s timeline. A witness admits uncertainty. Momentum shifts. The tension in the room is palpable.

By early afternoon, the defense plea begins—not just a speech, but a choreography of facts, legal reasoning, and human storytelling. “You must see the man,” PAGANELLI tells the jurors, “not just the accusation.”

📍 Unlike in correctional trials, here the debate itself changes the outcome. Jurors are emotionally and intellectually moved. Me PAGANELLI’s style is restrained, yet profound—precise facts mixed with moral clarity. That’s how justice is done.

🧭 Why These Insights Matter to International Clients

For clients based in Dubai, New York, or Geneva, understanding the French criminal process is essential when stakes are high. Nicolas PAGANELLI, who regularly collaborates with international law firms, offers not just legal expertise—but real-time guidance inside French institutions.

His cabinet, recognized by Forbes, is now one of the rare Parisian criminal law firms offering multilingual support, high-level strategy, and deep institutional access to Paris courts.

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 🧭 Contact Me PAGANELLI for international criminal defense in France
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