Magistrates in French-speaking West African countries are not above the law. This is generally true of their colleagues throughout the world. In French-speaking West Africa, where French is the working language and the law is largely inherited from French law, magistrates may be held liable under certain procedural conditions for their reprehensible behaviour or actions. Judges' liability may be incurred and upheld, especially at three levels: disciplinary, civil and criminal. The legislation of French-speaking African countries in the west of the continent includes a mechanism that gives magistrates jurisdictional privilege. This procedural mechanism protects judges against possible settling of scores and guarantees the independence of the public service of justice.