<P> The possibility of lengthy remand periods was one reason why the Napoleonic Code was criticized for its de facto presumption of guilt, particularly in common law countries . Another reason was the combination of magistrate and prosecutor in one position . However, the legal proceedings did not have de jure presumption of guilt; for instance, the juror's oath explicitly required that the jury not betray the interests of the defendants and not ignore the means of defense . </P> <P> The rules governing court proceedings, by today's standards, gave significant power to the prosecution; however, criminal justice in European countries in those days tended to side with repression . For instance, it was only in 1836 that prisoners charged with a felony were given a formal right to counsel, in England . In comparison, article 294 of the Napoleonic Code of Criminal Procedure allowed the defendant to have a lawyer before the Court of Assizes (judging felonies), and mandated the court to appoint a lawyer for the defendant if the defendant did not have one (failure to do so rendered the proceedings null). </P> <P> Whether or not the Cour d'assisess, whose task was to judge severe crimes, were to operate with a jury was a topic of considerable controversy . Bonaparte supported jury trials (or petit jury), and they were finally adopted . On the other hand, Bonaparte was opposed to the indictment jury ("grand jury" of common law countries), and preferred to give this task to the criminal division of the Court of Appeals . Some special courts were created to judge of criminals who could intimidate the jury . </P> <P> Bonaparte also insisted that the courts judging civil and criminal cases should be the same, if only to give them more prestige . </P>

What were the problems with the napoleonic code