Presentation: What is the intimate conviction that the French Revolution made a compass for all those who judge in criminal matters? The shift in the use of the words "intimate" and "intimacy" affects the meaning of the expression. For some, the notion would be vague, leaving the judge to his or her own feelings. They often believe that the notion of intimate conviction would only concern jurors. And to draw the conclusion that, decidedly, criminal justice is too serious to be abandoned to ignorant people who, moreover, have such a poor tool.
To avoid misinterpretation, we must take it all back. What was the criterion in place before the one of intimate conviction? Where did this one come from? What is the connection with the Enlightenment? Why the adjective "intimate"? What is the relationship with the common law, which retains the conviction forged "beyond all reasonable doubt"? The intimate is not the temple of subjectivity. After a judicial debate conducted according to the rules of a fair trial, comes the time when each judge alone must assume his or her responsibilities, in the silence of his or her conscience, through the use of reason and with impartiality. Intimate conviction is a democratic standard of proof.
(Short excerpt said by the author of a conference published in its entirety by Editions M-Editer in a collective entitled L'INTIME prefaced by Julia Kristeva is available in ebook.pdf and printed book m-editer.izibookstore.com/prod...)