Cases build up as judges’ strike prevents rulings
The ongoing protest by judges and lawyers prevented the Council of State issuing verdicts on Friday on a number of significant issues, such as the legality of The Mall in Maroussi and the diversion of the Acheloos River, as a case backlog at lower courts continues to grow.
It is now estimated that as a result of the judicial officials’ go-slow protest the Council of State, Greece’s highest administrative court, has 40,000 cases outstanding. Another 50,000 cases are waiting to be heard at lesser administrative courts. The Athens First Instance Court has yet to rule on more than 10,000 cases. At its Piraeus counterpart, more than 4,500 cases are still to be heard.
Judges have been protesting reductions to their wages, which are part of the government’s spending cuts. The Council of State’s plenary is due to attempt to meet again on February 15.
