The National Association of Judges of the Republic of Albania has officially addressed the High Judicial Council (HJC), raising serious and urgent concerns about the functioning of the courts of general jurisdiction, especially the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal in Tirana, as well as the administrative courts.
In a request approved at the meeting of December 10, 2025, the Association notes that these courts face the highest caseload in the country, in a prolonged situation of overload that has begun since 2018, after the start of the vetting process. The severe lack of human resources, both at the level of judges and the administration, has created a structural crisis that is directly affecting the normal functioning of justice.
According to the Association, this situation has long gone beyond the limits of a temporary difficulty, violating the constitutional principle of trial within a reasonable time, the efficiency of the system and public trust. The human consequences of this overload are also considered alarming, including extreme cases of endangering the lives of judges, such as the tragic case of Judge Astrit Kalaja.
One of the main issues raised is related to institutional security in the courts. The association highlights the lack of trained security personnel, the lack of basic equipment such as metal detectors, as well as the lack of functional separation of premises between judges, administration and the public. It also highlights the lack of personnel dedicated to ensuring order during court hearings.
In particular, the extreme workload is also in focus. The judges of the Court of First Instance in Tirana are faced with over 1,100 cases per judge, a situation that has lasted for more than seven years. Meanwhile, in the Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction, around 50,000 files are awaiting review, with appeals still dating back to 2017–2018. This situation is directly related to the incomplete structure of judges and the lack of trained administrative staff.
The association also criticizes transfers and reassignments of cases, which, according to it, have further increased the pressure on current judges, compromising their physical and psychological well-being and negatively affecting the quality of judicial decision-making.
Another major concern is related to the new standards for evaluating judges, provided for in decision no. 433, dated 22.07.2025, of the Supreme Court of Justice. The association considers these standards objectively unfeasible in the current conditions of overload and warns that they increase pressure, subjectivism and endanger the internal independence of judges. The 4-month standard for reasoning decisions is also criticized, which is assessed as unrealistic and disproportionate.
In this context, the Association requests immediate measures from the Supreme Court of Justice, including urgently filling vacancies for judges, increasing and training administrative staff, improving security in courts, reviewing evaluation standards and suspending unachievable deadlines, as well as investments in infrastructure and digitalization.
In conclusion, the National Association of Judges emphasizes that addressing these issues is essential for guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary, the well-being of judges, and the provision of quality, effective, and reliable justice to citizens, expressing its readiness to cooperate with the Supreme Court of Justice.
