The TSJC warns that Catalonia needs another 187 judges
The courts are receiving more and more cases and cannot cope with the workload despite resolving more procedures.
BarcelonaMore and more cases are arriving at the Catalan courts, and although they are also resolving more, the incoming workload exceeds what they can handle. For example, despite the fact that many more cases were resolved in 2024 than in previous years and the courts closed 96.78% of the cases they received, the year ended with more pending proceedings than there were in January. At the end of the year, there were still 732,408 pending cases. To resolve this situation, the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) estimates that Catalonia needs an additional 187 judge positions (154) and magistrate positions (33) to optimally cover the workload facing the country's courts.
This calculation is included in the 2024 judicial report, which the High Court of Justice (TSJC) made public this Thursday. It was made in accordance with the reference scales agreed upon by the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) and the Ministry of Justice on the workload that a judge can assume. In fact, all types of courts and tribunals far exceed the volume of work they take on with respect to this reference, and some exceed it by 200% (first instance and courts of personal capacity) and even 300% in the case of commercial courts.
For now, Catalonia has a ratio of 10.67 judges per 100,000 inhabitants, while the national average is 11.92 judges per 100,000 inhabitants. The High Court of Justice (TSJC) has warned that, to bring Catalonia "closer" to the Spanish average, the number of judges and magistrates serving in Catalan courts should be approximately 968. This represents 102 more jobs than the current 866. In the last year, some reinforcements have already been approved, especially aimed at speeding up trials for repeat offenders in Barcelona, which have given rise to a number of cases. the first fruits, and the Generalitat has explained that it is working with the horizon of creating 60 places New judges throughout Catalonia.
In which areas are cases increasing the most?
In 2024, the number of cases ended with 732,408 stranded in the Catalan courts. This is the highest figure in the last five years, in which there has been a constant upward trend. Since 2020, it has also been the year in which the most cases have come before the courts (1,271,725) and the most have been resolved (1,230,798). The TSJC report warns of a "notable increase" in cases, especially in the last two years.
This increase in workload affects all jurisdictions, but two are particularly affected. This is the labor jurisdiction, which handles, among other disputes, labor matters, and received 10.78% more cases last year than the previous year. In the criminal jurisdiction, the increase was 6.87% in specialized courts and tribunals.
Going into detail by type of court or tribunal, those related to the civil sphere have seen the sharpest increase in caseload. The largest figure is the 35.77% increase in cases received by the TSJC's civil division. Cases in the civil sections of the provincial courts have also increased by 20 percent, and those received by the civil courts for domestic violence have increased by 12 percent.
Where are more judges needed?
The High Court of Justice (TSJC)'s estimate of judicial staffing needs is 33 magistrate positions—in the TSJC itself and in the provincial courts—and 154 judges serving in the ordinary courts. Specifically, the judiciary sees the need to create two magistrate positions in the TSJC, and, regarding the provincial courts, 27 magistrate positions would be missing in the Barcelona Court, one in Lleida, two in Tarragona, and two in Girona.
According to the judiciary's calculations, the ordinary courts need 78 more positions in the Barcelona districts and 39 in the Catalan capital. In Lleida, the TSJC's calculations indicate that seven more positions would be needed in the regional capital and another in Cervera. The shortage in Tarragona is eight magistrate positions in the district capital and another seven in different courts in Reus, Valls, and El Vendrell. In the city of Girona, the High Court of Justice (TSJC) sees a need for six more magistrate positions, in addition to eight positions for the rest of the district.
