La « bonne distance » dans la défense juridique

The “bonne distance,” or “proper distance,” is a principle of legal defense that Pascal treats as essential to a successful case. In the novel, it becomes concrete during Myriam’s first meeting with a man facing life imprisonment: she resists his charm, scrutinizes his account, and presses him to tell the truth rather than rely on deception.

Definition and Professional Use

Pascal repeatedly uses the expression “bonne distance” to describe a lawyer’s necessary stance toward a client. It is not indifference: it is a disciplined separation that allows legal judgment to remain clear. Myriam’s response to the principle is practical and evidentiary. She works to disentangle fact from falsehood methodically, supporting her assessment with proof.

Myriam’s First Meeting with the Client

At the first appointment, the man recounts his life to the lawyers in a story marked by lies and obvious exaggerations. Even with a life sentence looming, he tries to charm Myriam. She makes a deliberate effort to maintain the distance Pascal advocates, refusing to let the performance substitute for a reliable account.

Candor as a Defense Strategy

Myriam explains, in simple but cutting language, that lying is a poor defense technique. Since the man has nothing left to lose, she tells him, he has no reason not to speak truthfully. The exchange shows the principle operating as both a method of legal inquiry and a direct challenge to the client’s chosen strategy: credibility depends on separating evidence from self-presentation, and effective representation requires confronting that distinction rather than colluding with a false story.