The president of the TSJC warns about the lack of judges in Catalonia
In a context where Catalan justice is at a crossroads, Mercè Caso, president of the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC), has made an urgent call to action. During a recent press conference, Caso highlighted that there are currently 132 vacancies among the 871 judicial positions available in the region, which jeopardises the proper functioning of the judicial system.
The president emphasised that it is imperative to hold extraordinary calls to fill these vacancies and the new positions that will be created. “Without extraordinary calls, we will have chairs, but no one to occupy them,” she stated with concern. This deficit not only affects the courts but also the capacity to respond to the growing volume of litigation in Catalonia.
One of the factors exacerbating this situation is the high mobility among magistrates. Many newly qualified judges choose to move to courts closer to their places of origin after a year in office. To counteract this phenomenon, the TSJC is collaborating with the Department of Justice to implement salary supplements aimed at retaining judges in Catalonia and fostering their vocation from academic stages.
Aside from the issue of vacancies, Caso also mentioned the shortage of qualified administrative staff within the judicial system. “When we manage to fill vacancies, we often find people without sufficient training,” she lamented. Furthermore, the delayed implementation of adequate computer systems has further complicated the situation, leaving Catalonia lagging behind the rest of the Spanish State.
In another critical issue addressed by Caso was the alarming increase in cases of sexual harassment among minors, especially those related to social networks. Since the creation of specialised courts to deal with these crimes under the new efficiency law, 355 preliminary proceedings have been opened, many related to situations such as sexting and grooming. This highlights not only a judicial crisis but also an urgent need to discuss how to better protect children in an increasingly complex digital environment.
You may also like
