Opinion (José Lúcio / Judge) Statistics Justice.
Regular publication of the figures for the procedural motion in the Portuguese courts has demonstrated indisputably form the reality of a progressive and sustained improvement.
José Lúcio
(Judge President of Beja County)
Each new analysis period corresponding to a marked decrease in the number of processes and the time average of its resolution.
Paradoxically, these indicators are either ignored or are all welcomed with undisguised annoyance. It is noted in general opposition reactions: It seems it would be more convenient dissemination of indicators to the contrary. The numbers showed that the courts walked less and worse, adding to the methods and accumulating them without solving, and all would be over as the vulgarized narratives.
So, It is as, we are facing a serious disturbance to the preconceived ideas (the preconceived ideas, as we know, characterized precisely by long have ceased to be thought).
And yet there is no return to give you. The Portuguese courts demonstrate in each period that consideration, in recent years, a response capability that has allowed persistently not only cope with the demand registered in the same periods as well shoot down heavily coming back liabilities.
To return to find abundant exemplification see the data released by the Directorate General for Justice Policy (www.dgpj.mj.pt) last day 30 April.
Extract some observations these documents.
Inquiring about the number of pending cases in courts of first instance in the year 2017 and the procedural resolution rate in this period, It begins with be seen that in the year in question, not considering the data of the sentencing courts, the number of pending decreased about 13,2%.
A 31 December 2017 the number of cases pending in our courts of first instance was still 983.610, but earlier this year there were more 149.465.
The procedural resolution rate, measuring system capacity in a given period to meet the demand of the same period, was 2017 of 128,2% It is the fifth consecutive year with procedural resolution rate of positive value.
That way, with regard to the global movement of new cases and ended in the Portuguese courts of first instance in the year 2017, we have that the number of completed cases was again much higher than the number of new cases.
The favorable balance of 149.465 processes involved in the decrease in pending about 13,2 %, wherein 2017 was, repeats, the fifth consecutive year in which there was a reduction in the number of pending cases.
These trends occur in various process areas, with special emphasis on the civil court but leaving also happen in the penalty area (and say that in the year 2017 even in the administrative jurisdiction and tax, consensually identified as most problematic, there was some improvement, obviously insufficient but which should also be recorded).
If you search in documents published by DGPJ, that they are available to all, easily find a plurality of assertions that could be brought here to reinforce the foregoing.
So, in the fourth quarter 2017, the number of pending civil executive actions decreased about 12,5%, It is procedural resolution rate 173,6% and this being the twenty-first consecutive quarter with procedural resolution rate of over 100%.
In respect of insolvency proceedings, Special processes of revitalization and special procedures for payment pursuant turns out that in 2017 the number of cases pending at the end of the fourth quarter shows a decrease compared to the figure at the end of the fourth quarter of 2016 no value less 11,6%. The average duration of these processes, considering the time elapsed between the entry and the decision, in other words, for insolvency or similar, there was a tendency to decrease: the average duration of these processes was 9 months in the fourth quarter 2007 and presented in the fourth quarter 2017 an average of less than only 2 months.
Even in the administrative jurisdiction and tax, always pointed out for negative reasons that are known, it can be seen that in 2017 the number of pending administrative and fiscal courts in the first instance showed a decrease (less 1,7% a 31 December 2017 than 1 January in the same year) corresponding to a procedural resolution rate 105,0%.
It can be retort-, with reason, that much remains to be done and we can not give ourselves satisfied. I agree, provided that such dissatisfaction is the equivalent of that nonconformity that leads us to try to always do better. What is that nonconformity building. One can not confuse that feeling that instigates the constant overrun with one another quite different which is to delight himself in negativity, the slander, the destructive impulse that only finds support in whimper and comfort in what evil is, reacting with horror at the mere prospect of something to be improving.
(Text written under the previous rule to spell AO1990, by the author's option)
