An incorrect decision-making method was used in several dozen decisions in 2022 and 2023 by the Hague court, according to an internal report of the court, published on February 19 by the Dutch channel NOS.
According to the channel, sentences in 43 criminal cases were handed down after being heard by a judge as if they were handed down by three judges. The other two judges included in the list did not attend the hearing and did not sign the decision. Unbeknownst to them, their names appeared at the end of the decree with the addition that they could not sign it.
These are, in particular, errors in declarations of inadmissibility. These are cases that, in the judge’s opinion, cannot be heard in court because the requirements have not been met. This happens, for example, if one of the parties does not file an appeal within the established period.
According to other judges, this means that the judge did not provide “intelligible explanation” to your actions. The judge’s colleagues believe that personal benefit did not play a role and “unlikely”that the plaintiffs were deceived. However, the Hague court stated that “We are very sorry for this development of events”.
It is noted that after the publication of the report, this judge stopped working in the judicial system, and the Prosecutor’s Office and the Attorney General of the Supreme Court were informed of such actions. According to the court, the record of incorrectly completed positions has already been corrected.
The Judicial Council is carrying out an external investigation to ensure that this method is not used in other courts.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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