Legal professionals across Austria are protesting judicial working conditions during the Rule of Law Action Week. According to representative bodies, the system faces a shortage of 320 positions, including 250 judges and 70 public prosecutors nationwide.
Internal calculations show a 120 percent workload, with Vienna Criminal Court judges handling over 200 new files annually. While former Minister Alma Zadić added staff, current Minister Anna Sporrer faces no new planned positions for 2027 and 2028.
The Association of Defense Lawyers supports these demands as the ministry announces AI development plans. Union leader Martin Ulrich and official Nicole Baczak highlight the strain, echoing the 2019 warning that the judiciary is dying a silent death.