Cypriot high court officials report severe staff shortages impacting judicial efficiency

On October 26, 2026, the presidents of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus, Katerina Stamatiou and Antonis Liatsos, addressed the Parliamentary Finance Committee regarding the 2027 judicial budget. They warned that severe shortages of clerical and support staff are forcing judges to perform administrative tasks, such as secretarial work and minute-taking, which significantly delays judicial proceedings.

During the hearing, it was disclosed that the proposed budget for the Judiciary in 2027 is 64,185,289 euros, an increase from 60,802,818 euros in 2026. Liatsos stated that judges are effectively spending half their working day on non-judicial duties, with high-ranking officials performing tasks intended for lower-grade staff. Stamatiou further highlighted that district courts face additional issues with infrastructure and facilities.

The officials urged for immediate state intervention to hire necessary support personnel to allow judges to focus exclusively on their core duties. This ongoing staffing crisis remains a primary point of discussion between the judicial branch and the government as they finalize the 2027 budget appropriations.