The Palais de Justice, on the He de la Cité in Paris, was the hub of the universe for the officers of the crown, the upper segment of the French bourgeoisie, which really formed a separate class, the noblesse de la robe. They ranked well above the rest of the middle class in dignity and influence, yet clearly below the ancient noblesse de l'épée, whose position rested on their ancient titles and lands. The hierarchy of the royal courts was crowned by the Parlement de Paris itself, whose présidents often held important executive offices from the king as well. Parlement's traditional right to protest before the registration of royal edicts gave it frequent opportunities to modify national policy, a privilege which it sometimes carried to the point of outright refusal to register.