Susko: Ministry Wants to Achieve Courts Accessibility as Part of Judicial Reform

Bratislava, January 4 (TASR) - The basic goal that the Justice Ministry wants to achieve as part of the changes to the court map is the accessibility of courts to citizens, Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD) has told in an interview for TASR. Potential adjustments are complicated by the fact that the new court map was being introduced as part of the recovery plan, said the minister. According to the Justice Ministry's survey, the majority of judicial employees and judges view the reform negatively, with the (worse) accessibility of courts being the biggest problem caused by the reform, said Susko. The minister said that the potential establishment of press courts [courts that would specialise in lawsuits against media - ed note] is an MPs' initiative. The ministry is cooperating in the given agenda, as it falls within its competences. Susko expects the issue to be the subject of negotiations this year. The minister sees the main benefit of press courts in shortening of court proceedings. Due to the fact that proceedings related to the protection of personality rights usually last for several years, they no longer make sense for an aggrieved party, he explained. ko