In a move rarely seen in Belgium, the chairs and attorney-generals of the Supreme Court joined their counterparts from the courts of appeal to pen a letter to the federal government about inadequate funding of the justice system
Home News
1,000 judges and staff gather in Justice Palace to protest lack of funding
Lisa Bradshaw
Published:
Some 1,000 judges, prosecutors and other justice department personnel gathered in Brussels’ Justice Palace this morning in protest at the long-time underfunding of the department and the federal government’s plan to reform pensions.
It was the latest in a series of protest actions by the country’s justice staff to draw attention to the serious effects a lack of adequate funding has on the courts, prosecutions and – by extension – all of Belgian society.
We ask that resources be made available to execute all judgments
Supreme Court chair Eric de Formanoir
During the event today, the chairs and attorney-generals of Belgium’s Supreme Court and five courts of appeal signed an appeal to the legislative and executive powers – an extremely rare occurrence.
“We ask to be received by the prime minister and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to enter into a respectful and constructive dialogue,” said Eric de Formanoir, chair of the Supreme Court. “We ask that the societal roles of judge and prosecutor be fully recognized, that the necessary maintenance or renovation works be carried out in all court buildings, that professional and managerial posts are fully staffed, that further investment be made in digitalization and that resources be made available to execute all judgments.”