The CEPEJ adopted in 2023 a Backlog reduction tool to help States to reduce their backlog of cases in courts. The tool offers a step-by-step methodology aimed at identifying pending cases, that have accumulated over time, and at presenting measures to resorb them more rapidly. The tool is now complemented by best practices collected in a Resource Centre.

This Resource Centre is a public database of practices implemented in the Council of Europe Member States to reduce and prevent judicial backlogs. The practices are intended to serve as inspiration for the States that wish to address backlogs of cases.

The CEPEJ Network of pilot courts and CEPEJ members are regularly asked by the Working group on judicial time management (CEPEJ-SATURN) to share their different methods or practices that have been successfully implemented. The practices collected are not exhaustive.

If you wish to point us to any other backlog reduction practices, please send a message to [email protected] or submit this form.


BROWSE THE RESOURCE CENTER HERE

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of the Resource Centre ?

  • Display up-to-date backlog reduction practices 

The Resource Centre on Backlog Reduction Practices aims to function as a publicly accessible resource centre providing reliable information on implemented backlog reduction practices in member States. The term “practices” encompasses strategies, action plans, measures, tools, reforms, and all activities geared towards reducing or preventing the backlog of cases being formed in the courts and public prosecution.

 

  • Facilitate bilateral exchanges and knowledge sharing among authorities

The Resource Centre on Backlog Reduction Practices aims to enable authorities involved in backlog reduction activities to gain an overview of existing practices across Europe, facilitating learning from experiences of other States, through bilateral exchanges with peers on the practical experience of specific backlog reduction activities. It could help authorities to draw up action plans for successful backlog reduction and prevention.   

 

  • Provide factual presentation, without endorsing specific practices

The entries in the Resource Centre on Backlog Reduction Practices are based on the information on practices given by relevant authorities, without comments or analyses. The Resource Centre does not imply any endorsement or recommendation of the presented practices by the CEPEJ or the Council of Europe.

What are the criteria for publication?

The criteria for publication include relevance, implementation, and evidence based. The Resource Centre includes measures with a proven record of successful implementation or measures under implementation. These measures have achieved the desired result of reducing, preventing, or eliminating backlog of cases. The submitted information should be accompanied by evidence, in particular statistical data, that prove the result of the measures.

What are the main categories and how are they filled in?

When you fill in the form, you are requested to submit the following information.

  1. COUNTRY

  1. TITLE OF THE PRACTICE

  1. STATUS AND PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION

  1. DOMAIN (Legislative, operational, resources and training)

  1. AREAS OF APPLICATION

  1. Legislation, regulation, and policies [Practices focusing on legislation and policies adopted by the Parliament or other relevant bodies, already implemented, contributing to fighting or reducing backlog of cases. This includes legislative amendments.]
  1. Organisation of judicial systems [Practices pertaining to measures and judicial reforms affecting court networks and structure, judicial processes, and the role of judges and prosecutors.]
  1. Initial and in-service training [Practices covering initial and in-service training opportunities related to justice efficiency directly connected to backlog reduction activities. Target groups include all justice actors, not limited to judges and court staff but also other justice professionals, such as judicial experts and enforcement agents.]
  1. Resource allocation [Practices concerning the allocation of human, financial, and material resources to judicial systems that have had an impact on the reduction of case backlogs and the length of court proceedings.]
  1. Digitalisation of judicial systems [Practices introduced to digitalise judicial systems, resulting in improved process management that shortens court proceedings and reduces case backlogs.]

  1. Court and case management [Practices focusing on more efficient management of courts and prosecutorial offices through reorganising business processes. This can also include case management (e.g. reorganised case allocation, management of proceedings, trial scheduling, document flow, handling of backlog and/or repetitive cases).]
  1. Justice actors [Practices concerning the role of justice actors and professionals in enhancing the effectiveness of judicial processes. Measures can be designed to handle cases more effectively through improved interactions, management and communication between courts and justice professionals (public prosecutors, lawyers, notaries, enforcement agents, expert witnesses etc.).]
  1. Other practice(s) [Areas of application not mentioned above.]

More than one area of application can be selected per practice.

  1. LEVEL OF APPLICATION (system/national-wide, court/prosecution service and judge/prosecutor)
  1. IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITY (Ministry of Justice, Supreme Court, National Court Administration, High Judicial and/or Prosecutorial Council, Individual court, Prosecution office or Other).

  1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRACTICE

  1. EVIDENCE BASED RESULTS

  1. LINK TO THE PRACTICE