Croatian judges handling murder case receive death threats

Two judges in Šibenik, Croatia, who handled the case of Kristijan Aleksić, a suspect in a murder investigation, are now facing severe death threats. The Croatian Judges Association has publicly condemned the threats and pledged support to the affected colleagues.

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We as an association are in contact with our colleagues and we are truly giving them support because we know this could have happened to any of us.

Kolinda Kolar, vice-president of the Croatian Judges Association, revealed the gravity of the situation, stating that the judges have received "very serious death threats." These threats have been reported to the police, and Kolar issued an urgent appeal for them to stop, emphasizing that further harm is not an acceptable response to the ongoing legal proceedings.

The case has brought renewed attention to the functioning of the Croatian judiciary. Kolar pointed out that the problem extends beyond individual judges, citing systemic issues such as poor communication, information exchange, and the overwhelming workload faced by judicial officers. She stressed the need for a collective effort to make the justice system more efficient and secure.

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They have started receiving death threats, and very serious threats at that. The threats have been reported to the police and I truly ask through this medium that this stops because I don't think it's an answer for someone else to get hurt.

While the Minister of Justice has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the two judges, Kolar clarified that the State Judicial Council is the sole body authorized to make decisions in such matters. The association stands firmly with its members, ensuring they do not face this challenging situation alone. Kolar also shared personal insights into the daily pressures judges endure, particularly in urgent family law cases where immediate decisions are critical for child protection, often requiring judges to work late into the night, all while aware of potential risks in other pending urgent cases.

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The answer to this question would most often be: judges are overloaded. I would use this opportunity to say what that means in reality when we say we are overloaded.