- New Justice Efficiency Law 1/2025 reorganizes Alicante’s judicial system, merging civil and criminal courts into Tribunals of Instance.
- UGT union warns of significant delays and operational chaos due to insufficient human and material resources.
- Registration delays: 9 months backlog in Dénia’s Civil Registry with nearly 1,500 unresolved cases.
- Criticism of insufficient investment and exclusion of career judiciary staff from leadership roles.
- Conselleria invests €359,600 in new forensic evaluation facilities and judicial archives in Torrevieja.
- Plans for Alicante City of Justice postponed to 2026 with a €23 million budget.
UGT Warns of Judicial delays and Resource shortages in Alicante Amid New justice Law Reform
Alicante, spain – The recent implementation of Spain’s Law of Justice Efficiency 1/2025 has sparked growing concerns in Alicante regarding the functioning of its judicial system. The Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT) union in Alicante is sounding the alarm on the severe lack of both human and material resources, which threatens to paralyze courts and create significant case backlogs across the province.
What is the New Justice Efficiency Law?
Effective from July 1, 2025, the law reorganizes Alicante’s courts into Tribunals of instance, combining civil and criminal responsibilities previously handled by separate courts. This reform led to the disappearance of 22 individual courts in Alicante, aiming to streamline judicial processes under fewer, larger courts.
UGT’s Warning: Chaos and Delays Expected Across Alicante Courts
Juan Pedro Pelegrín, the Justice Delegate in Alicante, criticizes the reform, stating the changes have been “mostly cosmetic,” with no real investment to match the new organizational demands.
- Staff Shortages: Many judicial services lack sufficient qualified personnel. Such as, Dénia’s Civil Registry faces a 9-month delay with nearly 1,500 pending cases.
- Insufficient Infrastructure: Courts in Orihuela, Elche, and Alicante continue to grapple with outdated facilities and limited technological resources.
- Leadership Exclusion: Career judicial staff are reportedly sidelined from taking charge of leadership roles, which are reserved exclusively for “Letrados de la Administración de Justicia” (Legal Administrators), causing discontent and feelings of undervaluation.
The UGT demands the Conselleria de Justicia to acknowledge these problems and adequately fund both personnel and infrastructure, essential to support the new judicial model and prevent system paralysis.
Efforts to Improve Infrastructure: Investment in Torrevieja
| Project | Location | investment (€) | expected Completion | Facilities Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unidad de Valoración Forense Integral (UVFI) and Judicial Archives | Torrevieja | 359,600 | September 2025 | Victim support units, judicial archives, accessible restrooms, communication and security systems |
In response to increasing demand, the Conselleria initiated a €359,600 project in Torrevieja to create a new Integral Forensic Evaluation Unit (UVFI) and judicial archive. Located on Calle Patricio Zammit, No. 59, the 290-square-meter space is being adapted to offer specialized services, especially aimed at assisting victims of gender-based violence, while improving document management.
Currently, electrical, ventilation, security, and communication systems are under installation, with completion expected in September 2025.
Future Plans: The City of Justice in Alicante Set for 2026
Though some investment efforts are underway,large-scale solutions are still pending.The highly anticipated City of Justice in Alicante-a centralized judicial complex designed to improve efficiency and infrastructure-has been scheduled for completion in 2026. This project will receive a €23 million investment this year but is still in its planning and building phase.
Legal and Professional Community Respond
Lawyers and unions alike call for swift and effective measures to prevent court appointment delays, especially in social courts where scheduling is pushed as far as 2026. The lack of resources threatens to compromise citizen access to timely justice, causing growing frustration among legal professionals and citizens.
What’s at Stake?
- Justice Access: Without necessary resources, court delays impede timely resolution of cases.
- Public Trust: Judicial inefficiencies risk eroding confidence in the legal system.
- Victims’ Rights: Specialized support units, especially for vulnerable groups, may be compromised.
- Workforce Morale: Exclusion of career staff from leadership roles has implications for employee motivation and retention.
Conclusion
The judicial reform under the Law of Justice Efficiency 1/2025 presents ambitious goals for Alicante’s legal system but is currently hampered by a lack of investment in personnel and infrastructure. While projects like the new forensic unit in Torrevieja and the future City of Justice offer hope, immediate action is required to avoid crippling delays and maintain an accessible, fair judiciary for all citizens of Alicante.
UGT’s demands are clear: adequate funding, fair staffing policies, and infrastructural upgrades are vital for the triumphant implementation of the justice reform.
For more updates on Alicante’s judicial reforms and related topics,stay tuned.