Access to justice: timeframes for judicial proceedings

The processing of judicial cases within an acceptable timeframe is essential to guarantee effective access to justice. The processing of similar disputes in a comparable timeframe, irrespective of the court seised, is the cornerstone of a fair administration of justice. An analysis carried out by the Belgian Court of Audit showed that there are significant differences in timeframes between the divisions, cantons and districts within the same jurisdiction in Belgium and that clear time standards have not been defined. Fair administration of justice is therefore not guaranteed. The Court of Audit also noted that the Belgian College of Courts, which is responsible in particular for monitoring compliance with the timeframes of judicial proceedings, is not yet paying sufficient attention to these discrepancies and how to remedy them. The existing management tools are not sufficient.