In light of recent public comments on the draft bill for the new Code of Civil Procedure, which is currently under public consultation, the spokesperson of the Supreme Court, Justice Panagiotis Lymberopoulos, issued an extended statement emphasizing that “all actors in the justice system must act responsibly in fulfilling their duty to protect our legal culture.” He added:

“It is essential to isolate guild-like mentalities that aim merely at fleeting publicity, to investigate (even ex officio) extreme and unquestionably unlawful behaviors that unfortunately often appear in courtrooms, and to propose realistic solutions for speeding up the administration of justice.”

On the issue of delays in issuing judicial decisions, Justice Lymberopoulos noted:

“The problem is multifactorial, due not only to flaws in legislation but also to the adoption of distorted perceptions and practices by multiple key figures in the judicial system. The daily courtroom reality, where such attitudes and extreme behaviors are visible, clearly supports this conclusion.”

He also stressed that disciplinary measures have already been taken against judges who delay issuing rulings. Specifically:

• A significant number of judges have been permanently dismissed from their duties by the Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Plenary.
• Salary deductions have been imposed on others who show unjustified delays in delivering decisions.

Further key points from his statement:

A) Nature of the problem:
Delays in judicial decisions stem from multiple causes, including legislative shortcomings and the spread of flawed attitudes and practices by influential figures within the justice system.

B) Institutional response:
The judiciary has undertaken thorough performance evaluations and disciplinary actions, including permanent dismissals and salary reductions as per Article 50, Paragraph 4 of Law 4938/2022.

C) Judicial inspections:
The system of inspections and evaluations for judges and court bodies has recently been restructured according to European standards, including new court management systems and ongoing training programs. Early findings confirm that the vast majority of judicial work is of high quality and reliability, despite the overwhelming case volume.

D) Reports and complaints:
While many named and anonymous complaints serve a legitimate purpose, others are made for public relations or political motives. Nonetheless, all are investigated thoroughly, often more effectively than in other institutions.

Justice Lymberopoulos concluded:

“Today, all players in the field of Justice must rise to their responsibility to defend the integrity of our legal tradition. We must isolate short-sighted, corporatist approaches aimed at fleeting publicity; investigate extreme, unlawful behavior—even ex officio; and present pragmatic, well-founded proposals for accelerating the delivery of justice.”

He emphasized that the judiciary is fully aligned with this goal, as reflected in the July 8, 2025 statement by the President of the Supreme Court, Anastasia Papadopoulou.