HIV-contaminated blood between the outbreak of the virus in 1981 and the introduction of obligatory screening of blood donors in 1985 were not allowed representation as civil parties in court, as they would have been in normal criminal proceedings.

ECONOMIST: France

She has issued opinions and orders resolving pre-trial disputes in civil cases, written reports and recommendations to district court judges on a variety of issues, conducted preliminary proceedings in criminal cases, and presided over 14 trials with the consent of the parties.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

There, the Supreme Court ruled that executive privilege was overcome by the need for relevant information and evidence in criminal proceedings.

CNN: Transcript: Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing

The company itself has paid 1m euros in a controversial plea bargain with the court in which it accepted limited liability as the employer of the suspects and avoided further criminal proceedings.

BBC: Europe