Austrian judiciary announces protest over staff shortages

Judicial representatives in Austria have announced a protest scheduled for mid-October to highlight severe personnel shortages and systemic overloading within the legal system. From October 12 to 16, no hearings will be conducted, no decisions will be issued, and no official appointments will be scheduled.

Gernot Kanduth, president of the judges' association, stated that the current workload threatens the long-term functionality of the rule of law. He noted that district and regional courts are facing an average workload of approximately 120 percent. Currently, there are 1,478 judges employed at these levels, whereas the Ministry of Justice's own calculations suggest a requirement of over 1,700 to meet demand.

The protest follows months of warnings regarding staffing levels, which were not addressed in the 2026/27 double budget. The action will be coordinated alongside the association of prosecutors and the GÖD federal representation for judges and prosecutors.