Judges' Association calls for measures on lawyers' behavior

The Association of Judges and Prosecutors (EDE) is requesting legislative measures to address extreme behaviors of lawyers in courtrooms. The EDE's letter to the Ministry of Justice was prompted by recent incidents, such as the behavior of Zoi Konstantopoulou in court.

The EDE proposes removing lawyers from the courtroom, dismissing them from the trial, and initiating disciplinary proceedings. In its letter, the Association states that the current legislative framework is insufficient to address extreme behaviors of lawyers, unlike the behaviors of citizens.

Specifically, the EDE proposes either immediate criminal prosecution through a special legal framework for contempt of court, or the imposition of deterrent disciplinary penalties by the court, or the removal of the lawyer from the courtroom.

The Association emphasizes that the removal of the lawyer can be carried out with the assistance of the police guard, while in cases of disobedience or resistance, the existing provisions will be applied. In addition, it is proposed to suspend the criminal trial if requested by the litigant whose lawyer was dismissed, and to automatically postpone the civil trial.

The EDE points out that recently there has been an increase in incidents of extreme behavior against judicial officers, stressing that such behaviors degrade the role of the judge and undermine public confidence in justice.