Magistrates warn that Justice is “in crisis” and demand that the Budget Review allocate more resources

Magistrates in Uruguay are sounding the alarm, warning that the country's justice system is in a state of crisis, hampered by a budget they describe as belonging to the "20th century." The Uruguayan Magistrates Association (AMU) is urging lawmakers to allocate more resources to the judiciary during the ongoing parliamentary review of the national budget.

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the system of Justice with a budget from the last century is in crisis

The association argues that a lack of adequate funding for over three decades has severely limited citizens' access to justice. They view the current budget review as a critical opportunity to reconsider their requests, including a 6.08% budget increase previously sought by judges. Additionally, the AMU is pushing for salary adjustments that have been pending since the 2010 budget law and for the full implementation of Law 19.580, which addresses gender-based violence.

While the 2020 budget included provisions for specialized courts to handle gender-based violence cases, the AMU notes that a nationwide solution remains elusive. The association also highlighted the need to update funding for the ongoing academic development of magistrates, which has not seen an adjustment since December 2012. Areas such as gender, domestic, and sexual violence are identified as having the most significant resource deficiencies.

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the lack of an adequate budget for more than 30 years limits the population's access to Justice

The AMU points to a continuous rise in cases, crimes, and violent situations, all while the number of judges remains stagnant. This disparity, they contend, leads to burnout and judges taking leaves due to physical, emotional, or psychological strain. The association also advocates for the creation of new family and labor appellate courts and increased investment in building infrastructure, security, and personnel for social matters.

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