WILLEMSTAD – The Joint Court of Justice has adopted a new procedural code that governs how legal cases are assigned to judges. The new Case Assignment Code is intended to increase transparency, ensure a fair distribution of workload, and strengthen public trust in the judicial process.
The code was officially approved by the court's Board of Governors and Court Assembly on July 21.
Objective Criteria to Prevent Bias
Under the new system, cases must be assigned based on clear and objective criteria. The reform eliminates any possibility of assignments based on arbitrary decisions or personal preferences.
The code outlines four core principles:
Transparency and Objectivity – Assignments must be guided by well-defined, non-subjective criteria.
Impartiality and Integrity – The process must ensure judges do not have conflicts of interest or biases.
Specialization and Expertise – Cases should be assigned to judges with the relevant knowledge and experience.
Timeliness – The procedure must promote swift case allocation to support efficient case handling.
Boosting Confidence in the Judiciary
The court emphasized that the new rules are designed to reinforce public confidence in the legal system by upholding the core judicial values of independence, impartiality, and integrity.
The Case Assignment Code complements existing laws and is aligned with international legal standards, including rulings by the European Court of Human Rights.
By formalizing this procedure, the Joint Court aims to make the judicial process more predictable, fair, and transparent for all parties involved.