Judges launch protest week over court staff shortages

Judges and prosecutors will begin a week of action for the rule of law on Monday to draw attention to staff shortages at courts, ORF reports. The burden is especially severe at district and regional courts, including the district court in Schwechat, in Lower Austria’s Bruck an der Leitha district.

Judge Jörg Iglseder described the situation in Schwechat as particularly dire. The court has faced a steadily rising number of compensation claims under the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation, most recently receiving 4,500 a year. Its workload is at nearly 180 per cent of capacity, he said.

As of the beginning of this year, district and regional courts were short about 225 judges, excluding judges at administrative courts and prosecutors. Iglseder said that, in simplified terms, five people were having to do the work of six, leaving each with about 20 per cent more work than planned. Overtime is not separately paid, he said.

The shortage is not evenly distributed. In the district served by the Korneuburg Regional Court, which covers roughly the Weinviertel and adjoining areas south of the Danube, 73 judges are handling the workload intended for 95, Iglseder said.

He cited the rising number of cases involving EU law and issues linked to technological change, including cybercrime, online commerce and online hate. The government’s draft dual budget for 2027 and 2028 does not provide for additional judicial posts, he said. Iglseder argued that funding more posts was a matter of priorities, noting that the 225 vacancies would be equivalent to more than 5,000 police officers or 20,000 public-school teachers.

Iglseder also said staff feared taking sick leave or holidays because work would pile up in their absence. In Niederösterreich, there are four regional courts and 26 district courts.