Members of the Union of Judges and Prosecutors (JJU), following the conclusion of their regular annual general meeting, have issued a resolution in which, among other things, they express their concern and concern about the planned introduction of the artificial intelligence in the judiciary, while reiterating that they demand the restoration of the 13th and 14th salaries (Christmas and Easter bonuses and summer holiday allowance) in the public sector.

Specifically, the resolution of the NEC reads as follows:

“The Judges and Prosecutors – members of the Union of Judges and Prosecutors during the Ordinary General Assembly held on December 14, 2024, in the Hall of the Athens Court of Appeal:

– We request that the positions of the Judicial Associations be taken into account during the process of the Constitutional revision. The Board is authorized to put the articles concerning the Judiciary to an electronic vote among our members.

– We demand the restoration of the 13th and 14th salaries in the public sector

– We express our concern and concern about the planned introduction of artificial intelligence in the judiciary

– We demand: a) the immediate and full payment of travel and accommodation expenses for colleagues serving in regional courts of first instance; b) the increase of the number of posts in the courts of appeal; c) the acceleration of the voluntary departure procedure for judicial officials facing serious health problems.

– We emphasize in every direction that the unification of the first instance jurisdiction, as promoted both at the legislative level and at the level of implementation, is subject to scrutiny as to the constitutionality of the provisions governing it and as to the effectiveness of the regulations in relation to its purpose, i.e. the speedier administration of justice.

In particular, in relation to the status of judges of the first instance, legislative changes should be made immediately, so that at least:

1. to provide, by amending the relevant provisions of Law no. 5108/2024, that the service of the First Judges of the Special Registry is recognized and taken into account as the service of the First Judge when they are included in the General Registry, their service from 16.9.2024, i.e. from the day they legally bear the rank of First Judge.

2. to clarify that the inclusion of Special Registry First Instance Judges in the General Registry does not constitute grounds for transfer from the Court of First Instance in which they serve.

3. to clarify fully by legislative intervention that the salary progression of the First Instance Judges of Special Reports will follow the salary promotion arrangements of Article 4 of .2521/1997 on a pro rata basis, based on their actual years of service and irrespective of the rank they hold, and that this salary progression will continue to apply even after their possible inclusion in the General Register.

4. To establish in the courts of first instance where each of them serves, organic positions of Presidents of First Instance Courts of Special Yearbook, in order to be filled by the First Instance Judges of this yearbook, who at the entry into force of Law. 5108/2024 had the rank of Justice of Peace A’. Thereafter, these positions will be filled by the Special Yearbook Judges, provided that they have completed the period of service provided for by the KODKDL and submit a request to that effect.

5. to amend the provisions of the CIDCL, which do not treat the Prosecutors General and Special Judges uniformly in matters of hierarchy in relation to the other branches of the judiciary.

6. Provide in the CIDCL for the mandatory participation of a Special Reference Judge in the Tripartite Administrative Councils of the Courts of First Instance. Provide that the respective President of the First Instance Court shall regulate the number of days of service in the parallel and regional courts of his/her Court of First Instance, depending on the actual needs of these courts.

7. To provide that home investigations shall also be conducted in the presence of First Officers of General Jurisdiction with up to 12 years of service.

Finally, the Board of Directors of the Association a) will immediately appoint a member of the Board as the person responsible for monitoring the implementation of the consolidation of the first instance jurisdiction, to whom colleagues will address any issue that may arise, and b) will convene an extraordinary General Assembly with a special focus on the progress of the implementation of the above legislative changes and the implementation of the Law. 5108/2024 within three months from today”.