Judges against Mitsotakis: an ultimatum from the authorities on trust in justice

Greek judges and prosecutors openly presented their claims to the authorities: at the general assembly Union of Judges and Prosecutors of Greece was accepted harsh treatment of the government demanding immediate institutional changes that can restore public confidence in justice.

In essence, the judiciary has recorded what the street has been saying for a long time: the interference of politics in justice, pressure on judges and constant “signals” in high-profile cases undermine the public’s sense of justice. The resolution explicitly states that the government must take steps at the constitutional and legislative levelotherwise the crisis of confidence will only deepen.

The judiciary against the government’s “monopoly”

The adopted document clearly states the requirements for the upcoming constitutional reform. Judges and prosecutors say:

“We demand that the state take all necessary measures at the constitutional and legislative level so that public confidence in justice is restored. In particular, as part of the upcoming constitutional reform, we are seeking: a) a change in the way the leadership of the judiciary is selected, so that this is no longer the exclusive privilege of each successive government, and the democratically expressed opinion of the judiciary is taken into account in a mandatory manner; b) a ban on holding public office for judicial officials who retired from the judiciary during the last three years prior to their departure.”

In fact, the judiciary is questioning the norm by which the government controls the appointment of senior management of the judiciary. Judges demand to break the vicious circle “the politician appoints – the judge thanks”as well as blocking the rapid transition from the robe to the chair in the ministry or other high office.

The resolution adds that the judiciary “requires the adoption of legislative measures that will ensure the smooth conduct of trials and the protection of judicial officials both in the courtroom and outside it”. That is, judges talk not only about institutional independence, but also about safety and working conditions.

Politics, hands off open cases

Separate item Union of Judges and Prosecutors addresses political parties. The document says:

“We ask political parties to refrain from calling for and interfering in open court cases as this only increases doubts and mistrust in the institution of justice.”

In other words, the judiciary is directly asking politicians to stop making statements and giving “instructions” on cases that are still being considered by the courts. This signal clearly concerns how the government Kyriakos Mitsotakis commented on a number of high-profile cases, influencing public opinion long before the verdict.

At the same time, the resolution emphasizes:

“We express the alarm and concern of European judges at the increasingly frequent interference of national governments in their activities in the administration of justice.”

Thus, Greek judges fit the domestic agenda into the pan-European context: pressure on the judiciary is growing not only in Greece, but also in other countries EUand this is a systemic concern at the level of European judicial associations.

Speed ​​versus quality: judges warn about limits of ‘reforms’

The authors of the resolution do not deny the need to speed up the adoption of decisions, but remind that the race for statistics should not destroy the very idea of ​​justice. The document emphasizes:

“The legitimate goal of accelerating the pace of judicial decisions must be balanced with maintaining the quality of decisions, ensuring thorough case processing, and preventing judicial burnout.”

In this regard Union of Judges and Prosecutors requires:

• increasing the number of full-time positions in the country’s appellate courts;
• consolidation judicial mediation as the main tool for pre-trial and out-of-court dispute resolution.

In essence, the judges are reminding us that if the state wants to clear cases faster, it must invest in people and tools, and not just put pressure on those who are already at their limit.

Money and trust in justice

The last block of the resolution directly concerns the status and remuneration of the judiciary. Judges and prosecutors say:

“We are seeking the restoration of the 13th and 14th salaries in the public sector. Increasing base salaries by 20% and bonuses to pre-2010s levels to offset the ongoing depreciation of our real income.”

It’s not just about money itself: the judiciary actually reminds that the independence of justice is impossible with the systemic impoverishment of judges. The lower the level of material security, the higher the risks of pressure, dependency and corruption.

As a result, the resolution Union of Judges and Prosecutors of Greece looks like a comprehensive signal: from reforms at the constitutional level and the ban on direct political appointments to the protection of judges and the enhancement of their status. This whole agenda is aimed at one thing – to return to society the feeling that the court in Greece serves not the interests of the government, but law and citizens.

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