Lawyers hold strike, refuse to attend court hearings

Lawyers affiliated with the Athens Bar Association (DSA) staged a two-day strike on January 23 (Thursday) and January 24 (Friday), in protest against a legislative bill presented by the Ministry of Justice to the Greek Parliament.

Reason for the Strike
The strike was prompted by the Ministry of Justice's proposed bill, titled:
“Prevention of New Forms of Violence Against Women – Harmonization with EU Directive (2024/1385) – Additional Amendments to the Domestic Violence Act – Restructuring of Forensic Services – Strengthening the Functioning of Eurojust – Child Protection and Measures to Combat Crime under the Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure – Procedural Provisions in the Jurisdiction of Regulatory Courts, and Other Provisions.”

Scope of the Strike
The Athens Bar Association's Board of Directors outlined specific rules for the strike, allowing for exceptions in urgent cases while restricting participation in regular legal activities.

Permitted Cases:

• Instances where there is a risk of statute of limitations or forfeiture of rights.
• Criminal cases involving six years of limitation for first-degree offenses and seven years for appeals.
• Serious crimes with 15-year limitation periods (first-degree) or 18 years (appeals).
• Situations where detention time limits for prisoners are at risk of expiring.
• Negotiations, auctions, or other cases of urgent nature.
• Visa or residence permit expirations under immigration laws.

Prohibited Cases:

• Document submissions.
• Seizure proceedings.
• Immediate arrests or crimes requiring immediate pursuit.

Specific Situations:

• Lawyers may appear in court to request trial postponements.
• Interim measures can be taken only in critical, non-deferrable cases.
  Call for Solidarity

The Athens Bar Association emphasized the importance of adherence to these strike rules and urged lawyers to act in solidarity with their colleagues.

This two-day action serves as a platform for lawyers to express their deep concerns regarding the proposed bill and to draw attention to its potential implications.