Judicial Reform in Cyprus: First Year Results
The first year of Cyprus’s significant judicial reform has delivered promising results, achieving all the set goals, particularly in reducing the backlog of cases that have plagued the system for years. The reform has notably advanced through the concerted efforts of the newly established Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Constitutional Court, signaling a new era in the administration of justice in Cyprus.
Supreme Court and Supreme Constitutional Court Achievements
On July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court marked one year since the implementation of the Reform Laws. The Supreme Court, initially composed of 13 judges, was divided into the Supreme Constitutional Court with 9 judges and the Supreme Court with 7 judges.
In addition to its tertiary jurisdiction and other jurisdictions conferred by Article 9(3) of the Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Law of 1964, the Supreme Court now hears all prerogative writs at first and final instance, based on Article 155.4 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus. Moreover, as part of its duty to eliminate the backlog of old appeals, the Supreme Court has been tasked with handling all pending civil appeals filed by December 31, 2017.
Over the past year, the Supreme Court has achieved the following results:
- 43% of the old civil appeals (351 cases) have been processed.
- All cases filed under the jurisdictions of Article 9(3)(c) of Law 33/1964 have been dealt with promptly, with no delays.
- 216 prerogative writ cases have been resolved, and all appeals from the old Supreme Court’s decisions on prerogative writs have been cleared.
The prompt resolution of appeals from the new Supreme Court judges’ decisions on prerogative writs reflects a significant reduction in delays. The Supreme Constitutional Court, on the other hand, has shown remarkable efficiency with no delays reported in its jurisdiction.
The Role of the New Court of Appeal
Since its inception on July 1, 2023, the newly established Court of Appeal has played a pivotal role in accelerating the case resolution process. Acting as a second-instance court, it has handled approximately 900 cases across civil, criminal, and administrative jurisdictions. While an initial adjustment period was necessary, the pace of case resolution has steadily increased, underscoring the court’s growing efficiency.
Progress in District Courts
The reform’s impact extends to the District Courts, which have seen a notable reduction in the backlog of cases. Under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, Cyprus committed to clearing 20% of civil cases and appeals pending for over two years by the end of the first half of 2024, and 40% by the end of the first half of 2026. A detailed Action Plan has been implemented to meet these targets, including a thorough physical inventory of pending cases.
As of June 30, 2024, the results are encouraging:
- Cases pending for more than two years as of December 31, 2020, have been reduced by 55%.
- Cases pending for more than two years as of June 30, 2022, have decreased by 40%.
Furthermore, the introduction of new Civil Procedure Rules from September 1, 2023, is expected to further enhance the efficiency of justice delivery in the District Courts. To bolster these efforts, the Supreme Judicial Council appointed nine new District Court judges as of July 1, 2024.
Conclusion
The results of the first year of Cyprus’s judicial reform are undoubtedly impressive. The backlog of cases, which has long been a burden on the justice system, is being systematically addressed. While the task of completely eliminating delays is challenging and requires ongoing effort, the milestones achieved so far provide a solid foundation for continued progress. With the cooperation of all stakeholders, the issue of delays in the judiciary is on a promising path to resolution.
At Connor Legal, we are pleased with the progress made through these judicial reforms and wholeheartedly welcome the changes. These developments are set to significantly accelerate the justice system, enabling us to achieve justice for our clients much faster than was possible before the reform. We look forward to continuing to serve our clients with greater efficiency and effectiveness in this improved legal environment.
