“As if a surgeon had to operate without anesthetic”
“This communication is the last straw,” according to magistrate Sophie Van Bree. “It would be funny if we weren’t in such a tight flow. All we ask is to have the means to do our job. We really don’t care if we have dirty courtrooms and uncleaned windows. We are used to this. On the other hand, we need paper to do our work! It’s like telling a surgeon to operate on a patient without anesthetics or disinfectants. The situation is laughable.”
If we can understand the message behind this publication, the fact remains that the method chosen is inappropriate.“The advertiser in charge of this message certainly did not mean anything wrong but the problem is that it had to be approved by the ministry or another authority and it is felt like yet another lack of consideration towards the judicial power that we are suffocating for lack of sufficient resources”she adds.
Reluctance to become a magistrate
Working conditions seem to deteriorate over the years, creating a form of reluctance on the part of young people to become magistrates. “New generations are no longer ready to work more than 50% as is our case currently. The financial conditions have been reviewed, there is a lack of attractiveness of the function and a lack of consideration from politicians towards us. Just look at the working conditions in the criminal court, at Justitia, where food costs are waived. The members of the jury cannot enter with their food and drinks, but we must ensure that these people are well in order to pronounce a judgment with as much peace as possible.”she castigates.
“The problem with current justice is that the perpetrator suffers everything”: effective restorative justice against prison overcrowding
Finally, the example of the renovation of the courthouse is symptomatic of the constant lack of consideration. “The facade is being renovated and the frames are being replaced. However, there was no impact on the occupants, creating unbearable noise pollution during the hearings. This shows a lack of respect towards us.”concludes Sophie Van Bree.
