Slovenia advances judicial reforms and specialized criminal court

Slovenia is undergoing significant judicial reforms aimed at reorganizing the court system and improving the prosecution of serious crime. Starting January 1, 2027, a new organizational structure will integrate 44 district courts as external departments of 11 regional courts. The Supreme Court has clarified that courts will remain accessible at their current locations, and ongoing legal proceedings will continue without judge changes to ensure stability for the approximately 3,500 judicial employees involved.

In a related development, the Association of Lay Judges of Slovenia has expressed support for the establishment of the Specialized Criminal Court (SKOK). While supporting the reform, the Association emphasized that organizational changes must be accompanied by faster procedures, increased professionalism, and more effective tracking of illicitly obtained assets. They have submitted 14 specific proposals to the Ministry of Justice to address potential issues, such as the increased workload of the High Court in Maribor, arguing that organizational challenges should not be a reason to halt the reform.