Strauss-Kahn Confronts Accuser (a French woman)

[WSJ Law Blog]

French diplomat Dominique Strauss-Kahn today was required to head to a French police station and confront, face-to-face, a French woman who has accused him of raping her, allegations that he has denied.

We’ve had a number of occasions recently to consider how the French legal system differs starkly from our own style of justice.

Recall the recent fine against French women for wearing face veils and the conviction of a fashion designer for making anti-Semitic comments? The Constitution likely would have barred U.S. judges from imposing those penalties.

The Dominique Strauss-Kahn case offers another example of the French system’s idiosyncrasies. The diplomat today was required to head to a French police station and confront, face-to-face, a French woman who has accused Strauss-Kahn of raping her. He has denied those allegations, which are under investigation.

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