Filenews 8 July 2022 - by Nicoletta Kouroushi
"Immediately and in many ways, citizens are expected to benefit from the reform of the Judiciary, mainly on the issue of quality, speed of trial of court cases and legal certainty," Christos Clerides, President of the Pancyprian Bar Association, told Filenews. It is recalled that after 25 sessions and debates that lasted three years, the Parliament yesterday voted in favour of the bill that paves the way for the reform of the judiciary at the highest level.
Asked by Filenews to comment on the importance of voting in favour of this bill and the benefit to the citizens, Mr. Clerides first mentioned that people will benefit immediately, since around 5000 pending appeals are expected to be processed in 3 years instead of 9 years, which would have been needed if the reform had not been voted on, a development benefiting around 15,000 citizens.
In addition, Mr. Clerides pointed out that with the establishment of two new courts at the highest level – the Supreme Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court – we can be optimistic that the cuts in the provincial courts will proceed rapidly, with a new judicial service consisting of 16 judges. in which constitutional cases will be heard, and in a Supreme Court, where cases of a criminal and civil nature will be heard, that is, the specialization of the courts, will work in favor of quality and speed.
In the interests of quality and speed, the creation of an appellate Court of Appeal with 3 chambers of Criminal, Civil and Administrative Law, with specialized judges, is expected to operate, argued the President of the GPP.
Also, as he said, in the context of reforming the courts of first instance, there will be a need for additional lawyers, judges or retired judges to hear the delayed cases, which amount to around 50,000, while the new technologies and new institutions, which will be introduced, will contribute to the faster adjudication of cases.
Mr. Clerides also noted that the system of appointment and promotion of judges to the Supreme Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court is being improved, while the right is granted to complaining judges to appeal to the Supreme Constitutional Court, a provision that did not exist previously.
In conclusion, Mr. Clerides pointed out that the Supreme Constitutional Court will be able to hear issues of a constitutional nature directly and not on appeal, as was done before.
