Austrian judicial staff shortage protests

In late September 2026, judicial representatives in Austria announced plans for a protest scheduled for mid-October. The action was organized to address severe personnel shortages and systemic overloading, with the judges' association president, Gernot Kanduth, stating that current workloads threaten the “long-term functionality of the rule of law.” At the time of the announcement, district and regional courts were reportedly operating at approximately 120 percent capacity.

By October 12, judges and prosecutors launched a week-long series of strikes and protests. During this period, regular court hearings, judicial decisions, and official appointments were largely suspended, with exceptions made only for urgent cases.

Legal professionals noted that the shortage has caused significant delays, with some courts facing waits of up to one year for initial hearings across criminal, family, and divorce law. Despite years of campaigning, representatives argued that no additional positions were allocated in the 2027/2028 budget, even as the Ministry of Justice pointed to planned relief measures.