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Code Henry

The first comprehensive legal code of the Kingdom of Haiti, promulgated by King Henry Christophe on February 20, 1812 — a sovereign act of juridical self-determination just eight years after the world's only successful slave revolution produced an independent nation. This digital edition presents the complete Code in 3,004 articles spanning 8 laws and 67 titres — from the Loi Civile's 1,535 articles on personhood, marriage, property, and succession, to the Loi sur la Procédure Criminelle's 421 articles on investigation, confrontation, and royal clemency. Every article has been hand-extracted from 19th-century OCR, corrected, translated into English, and annotated with plain-language life lessons and scholarly notes. Browse in French, English, or Kreyòl Ayisyen. 3,004 articles · 8 laws · 3 languages · 213 years restored

3,004 articles in the Code Henry

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51
Article 51 Law on Criminal Procedure · De la forme de procéder en matière de simple police
Criminal Procedure
The execution of judgments shall be pursued either by the public ministry or by the civil party.
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The execution of judgments shall be pursued either by the public ministry or by the civil party.

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52
Article 52 Law on Criminal Procedure · De la forme de procéder en matière de simple police
Criminal Procedure
At the beginning of each quarter, the parish lieutenant judges shall send to the king's prosecutor at their seneschal court extracts of police judgments imposing...
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At the beginning of each quarter, the parish lieutenant judges shall send to the king's prosecutor at their seneschal court extracts of police judgments imposing detention or fines, rendered in the preceding quarter. This extract shall be delivered without charge by the clerk. The king's prosecutor shall deposit them at the seneschal court clerk's office for reference, and shall give a summary account to the king's attorney general.

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53
Article 53 Law on Criminal Procedure · De la forme de procéder en matière correctionnelle
Criminal Procedure
Correctional police offenses are prosecuted at the request of the public ministry, or of the party injured by the offense with the king's prosecutor joined,...
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Correctional police offenses are prosecuted at the request of the public ministry, or of the party injured by the offense with the king's prosecutor joined, and even ex officio by the judge upon public outcry or notoriety.

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54
Article 54 Law on Criminal Procedure · De la forme de procéder en matière correctionnelle
Criminal Procedure
At the bottom of the complaint received by the judge and inscribed by the clerk on the designated register, signed by the complainant or noting...
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At the bottom of the complaint received by the judge and inscribed by the clerk on the designated register, signed by the complainant or noting he cannot write, the judge shall order the accused to appear at his hearing on the day and hour he fixes, to respond to the facts in the complaint and bring witnesses if any. The complainant shall likewise be ordered to attend with witnesses.

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55
Article 55 Law on Criminal Procedure · De la forme de procéder en matière correctionnelle
Criminal Procedure
A copy of the complaint and order at the bottom shall be prepared immediately by the clerk, and served at the complainant's request, on the...
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A copy of the complaint and order at the bottom shall be prepared immediately by the clerk, and served at the complainant's request, on the accused party, in person or at domicile, with a summons to appear at the hearing on the indicated day; appointment of attorney and election of domicile.

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56
Article 56 Law on Criminal Procedure · De la forme de procéder en matière correctionnelle
Criminal Procedure
As soon as the complaint is received, and even ex officio upon public outcry and notoriety, the judge shall verify or have verified the offense...
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As soon as the complaint is received, and even ex officio upon public outcry and notoriety, the judge shall verify or have verified the offense by police officers or the maréchaussée; he shall order all acts requiring urgency and tending to the preservation of evidence.

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57
Article 57 Law on Criminal Procedure · De la forme de procéder en matière correctionnelle
Criminal Procedure
If the matter concerns a contravention relating to measures, tax, weight of necessities, yardage, market police, the display of spoiled or rotten foodstuffs, etc., the...
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If the matter concerns a contravention relating to measures, tax, weight of necessities, yardage, market police, the display of spoiled or rotten foodstuffs, etc., the judge shall order, provisionally, the seizure of objects taken in contravention of laws and police regulations.

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58
Article 58 Law on Criminal Procedure · De la forme de procéder en matière correctionnelle
Criminal Procedure
The parties, both complainants and accused, may appear in person; but assisted by an attorney, at whose office they shall elect domicile.
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The parties, both complainants and accused, may appear in person; but assisted by an attorney, at whose office they shall elect domicile.

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59
Article 59 Law on Criminal Procedure · De la forme de procéder en matière correctionnelle
Criminal Procedure
The form of proceeding in simple police, prescribed by Chapter II above, shall furthermore be followed in correctional police.
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The form of proceeding in simple police, prescribed by Chapter II above, shall furthermore be followed in correctional police.

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60
Article 60 Law on Criminal Procedure · De la forme de procéder en matière correctionnelle
Criminal Procedure
The king's prosecutors at the seneschal courts shall obtain without charge from the clerks, at the beginning of each quarter, an extract of judgments rendered...
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The king's prosecutors at the seneschal courts shall obtain without charge from the clerks, at the beginning of each quarter, an extract of judgments rendered during the preceding quarter, on correctional or simple police offenses carrying a fine or detention; these extracts shall be addressed by them to the king's attorney general, who shall deposit them at the criminal court clerk's office for reference.

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61
Article 61 Law on Criminal Procedure · Des appels de jugemens de simple police
Criminal Procedure
In the case of appeal of a simple police judgment before the seneschal court judges, the procedure shall be as follows.
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In the case of appeal of a simple police judgment before the seneschal court judges, the procedure shall be as follows.

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62
Article 62 Law on Criminal Procedure · Des appels de jugemens de simple police
Criminal Procedure
The declaration of appeal shall be made at the simple police clerk's office, either by the civil party or the accused, within twenty-four hours following...
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The declaration of appeal shall be made at the simple police clerk's office, either by the civil party or the accused, within twenty-four hours following the judgment; and served on the respondent in person or at domicile, with appointment of attorney and summons to appear on the first hearing day of the correctional police at the district seneschal court. This deadline, once expired, shall entail forfeiture of the appeal by operation of law.

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63
Article 63 Law on Criminal Procedure · Des appels de jugemens de simple police
Criminal Procedure
The effect of this service of appeal shall be to suspend the execution of the judgment rendered in simple police.
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The effect of this service of appeal shall be to suspend the execution of the judgment rendered in simple police.

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64
Article 64 Law on Criminal Procedure · Des appels de jugemens de simple police
Criminal Procedure
All the procedural documents from simple police shall be sent by the parish court clerk to the seneschal court clerk, who shall issue a receipt....
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All the procedural documents from simple police shall be sent by the parish court clerk to the seneschal court clerk, who shall issue a receipt. These documents shall be inventoried, numbered, marked, and initialed by the sending clerk.

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65
Article 65 Law on Criminal Procedure · Des appels de jugemens de simple police
Criminal Procedure
The appellant's petition shall be delivered to the seneschal court clerk, signed by the appointed attorney, with election of domicile; this petition shall be reasoned,...
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The appellant's petition shall be delivered to the seneschal court clerk, signed by the appointed attorney, with election of domicile; this petition shall be reasoned, contain the grounds for appeal, and be joined to the procedural documents.

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66
Article 66 Law on Criminal Procedure · Des appels de jugemens de simple police
Criminal Procedure
The appellant and respondent shall appear either through an attorney, or in person assisted by their attorney, unless otherwise ordered by the seneschal court.
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The appellant and respondent shall appear either through an attorney, or in person assisted by their attorney, unless otherwise ordered by the seneschal court.

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67
Article 67 Law on Criminal Procedure · Des appels de jugemens de simple police
Criminal Procedure
Upon reviewing the documents and the king's prosecutor's written conclusions, the seneschal court shall rule, after having first heard at the hearing the appellant developing...
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Upon reviewing the documents and the king's prosecutor's written conclusions, the seneschal court shall rule, after having first heard at the hearing the appellant developing his grounds for appeal, and the respondent in his defense.

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68
Article 68 Law on Criminal Procedure · Des appels de jugemens de simple police
Criminal Procedure
If the king's prosecutor, or one of the parties, requests that the witnesses heard before the parish lieutenant judge, and even others who were not,...
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If the king's prosecutor, or one of the parties, requests that the witnesses heard before the parish lieutenant judge, and even others who were not, be heard again before the seneschal court judges, the request shall be granted.

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69
Article 69 Law on Criminal Procedure · Des appels de jugemens de simple police
Criminal Procedure
In the case of the preceding article, the provisions on the form of proceeding in simple police matters, on the solemnity of witness hearings, on...
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In the case of the preceding article, the provisions on the form of proceeding in simple police matters, on the solemnity of witness hearings, on the number of proofs, on the form, publicity, or authenticity of the judgment, and on the condemnation to costs, shall be scrupulously followed and executed.

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70
Article 70 Law on Criminal Procedure · Des appels de jugemens de simple police
Criminal Procedure
If a new hearing of witnesses has not been requested, the seneschal court shall reform or confirm the judgment.
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If a new hearing of witnesses has not been requested, the seneschal court shall reform or confirm the judgment.