# Croatia judicial system disputes

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/croatia-judicial-system-disputes
> Updated: 2026-10-27T21:05:36.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

The Croatian judiciary is facing internal and external tensions involving different branches of the legal system. In mid-October, Interior Minister Davor Božinović entered a public dispute with the Association of Croatian Judges (UHS) regarding the handling of incidents involving the Torcida supporter group in Split. The Minister criticized the judiciary for slow processing of repeat offenders, while the UHS accused the Ministry of the Interior of shifting responsibility onto the courts without providing verifiable data.

By late October, the crisis expanded to the Constitutional Court, where three judges began boycotting sessions. The boycott is centered on a dispute over the use of audio recording equipment during sessions and professional meetings. While Court President Frane Staničić maintains the recordings are necessary for accurate minutes, boycotting judges argue the practice was introduced without formal authorization or defined rules. 

The impasse has escalated into a political conflict between the ruling HDZ and the opposition SDP, with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković suggesting the boycott may be politically motivated. Experts have warned that the situation threatens the institution’s functionality, as the court has been operating with only ten of its thirteen planned judges since April.

## Claims

- Three judges, Andrej Abramović, Sanja Bezbradica Jelavić, and Lovorka Kušan, are boycotting Constitutional Court sessions. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The judges' condition for returning to work is the cessation of audio recording of sessions and professional meetings. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- Frane Staničić called on the Croatian Parliament to elect three missing judges without further delay. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The dispute over the accuracy of minutes began in May 2026. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Audio recording of sessions began on October 1st. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated the boycott is an obstruction by judges proposed by the left-wing opposition. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The SDP has announced it will support candidates Goran Selenec and Ana Horvat Vuković. (single source)
- The court has been operating with ten out of the planned thirteen judges since April. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-27: Croatia Constitutional Court faces crisis over judge boycott

Three Croatian Constitutional Court judges are boycotting sessions over the introduction of audio recordings, sparking a political dispute between the HDZ and SDP and threatening the court's functionality.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-constitutional-court-faces-deadlock-over-session-recording

### 2026-10-17: Croatia Interior Minister and Judges clash over Split incidents

Croatian Interior Minister Davor Božinović and the Association of Croatian Judges are clashing over the responsibility for handling repeat offenders following recent incidents in Split.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatian-judges-association-criticizes-interior-minister-over-responsibility-for-public-disturbances

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Cite as: Croatia judicial system disputes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/croatia-judicial-system-disputes