marie seong-hak kim med as they could not rely on the traditional step up into the next rank of hierarchy and instead needed to buy their way in like anyone else. The relationship of the traditional cordiality and mutual respect between the judges and avocats deteriorated.123 The slights that even de Thou had to endure because of his avocat background fully exemplified this situation. In short, the sale of offices led to a differentiation within the legal hierarchy in self-perception and the projection of values. From the mid-sixteenth century, a line was drawn in the world of legal profession between those who enjoyed an exalted status as the noblesse de robe and those who saw themselves relegated to the rank of second-class citizens. The social groups such as avocats, procureurs, and municipal officials were increasingly resentful of theparlementaires’ pretensions. According to Colin Kaiser, the uneasiness on the part of theparlementaires about these groups’ grievances drove them to an exaggerated postulation of moralist behavior and religious orthodoxy. Sensing a crisis, and afraid of losing their carefully-cultivated exalted image, the judges imposed upon themselves high moral standards for behavior.124 The religious conflicts that swept France led the Parlement to undergo a process of the externalization of values. Most prominent among its projected values was the Catholic belief. In an attempt to countervail the growing animosity from society, the judges tried to enhance its professional probity and doctrinal purity. The court emphasized its role as the guardian of society and, above all, its position as the staunch defender of Catholicism. In short, individual Parisian judges embraced the norm of a “perfect Catholic judge.”125 The image of a perfect magistrate required unswerving allegiance to the orthodox religion; any signs of moderate opinion and action towards the 123 Frenchprocureurs needed to purchase avenal office, but avocats never became venal officers. The reason for this is not clear, but it is possible that the avocats’ most powerful clients, prominent nobles and prelates, opposed venality, fearing that it might threaten their interests. The exemption of avocats from venality conferred a certain degree of status to the bar, as admission to its ranks was perceived as recognition of learning, not money. Delachenal, R. 1885; Prest, Wilfrid R. 1981. 124 Kaiser, Colin 1982 p. 15. 125 Ibid. 161 A“Perfect Catholic Judge”
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