Chief Justice Özerdağ: Constitutional Reform Now Essential To Speed Up Judiciary

Reviewing the 2025-2026 judicial year, Özerdağ said reforms are needed to improve the efficiency of the courts while digital transformation efforts continue across the judiciary.

He also announced that a second Assize Court in Nicosia will begin operating on September 16 to help ease the workload.

According to Özerdağ, approximately 150,000 cases were filed during the last judicial year, of which around 83,000 were concluded. He said the proposed constitutional amendments are now crucial to ensuring a faster and more effective judicial system.

Speaking at the opening of the new judicial year, Özerdağ said the current structure of the judiciary is operating under increasing pressure due to a growing population, a rising number of legal disputes and the expanding complexity of cases. While judges and court staff continue to work with dedication, he noted that structural reforms are now indispensable if the justice system is to meet public expectations.

Özerdağ stressed that introducing a three-tier court system would strengthen the right to a fair trial by allowing cases to be reviewed more comprehensively before reaching the Supreme Court. He argued that such a system would also reduce the workload of the country's highest court and improve consistency in judicial decisions.

He highlighted ongoing investments in the digitalisation of the courts, saying electronic case management systems and other technological improvements are expected to shorten proceedings and increase transparency. He added that further investments in infrastructure and personnel will be necessary to fully modernise the judiciary.

The Chief Justice also called for an increase in the number of judges and judicial staff, saying that expanding human resources is essential to keeping pace with the growing caseload. He noted that delays in the administration of justice affect public confidence and that ensuring timely trials remains one of the judiciary's primary objectives.

Özerdağ said the judiciary will continue working closely with the legislative and executive branches on reforms while preserving its constitutional independence. He expressed hope that the necessary constitutional amendments would be adopted without delay, allowing the courts to deliver justice more efficiently and respond more effectively to the needs of society.