Newly elected president of the Judges’ Union Association says he is attentive to justice reform

Judge Nuno Matos, recently elected president of the board of the Associação Sindical dos Juízes Portugueses (ASJP), considers that justice reform must be carried out at the legislative level, but also looking at issues related to the exercise of the function.

Speaking to the Lusa agency, regarding the elections for ASJP’s governing bodies, for the three-year period 2024-2027, which took place on Saturday, Nuno Matos today highlighted the “vitality” of the association revealed by the strong electoral participation.

“It was an extremely competitive election, there is no memory of so many judges voting for union association elections. It is clear that new technologies also helped, as for the first time there was electronic voting, which makes things much easier. This is a very good sign of ASJP’s vitality”, he stated.

Regarding how he will carry out his duties at the head of the association, the judge said that “you just need to pay attention to the motto of the candidacy” he headed: “For independence, unite and dignify.”

“Unite an association of all judges and for all judges, from all jurisdictions, because it is not just for common courts, it is also for administrative and fiscal courts, and also for retired judges; to dignify judges and justice, in everything whatever may be included in this, from legislation to working conditions, to computer systems, all these issues that need to be resolved”, he listed.

And, in this regard, he stated that “justice reform has to be done at the legislative level, but also looking at these issues more related to the exercise of the function”.

According to figures released by ASJP, Nuno Matos collected 813 votes for the national leadership, while Moreira das Neves, who headed the other competing list, obtained 811.

The list of Nuno Matos, judge of the Lisbon Court of Appeal, promises to take “a proactive stance, proposing reforms to the competent entities with a view to the permanent defense of human rights, living in a democratic State of Law, improving the judicial system and guarantee of citizens’ access to accessible and prompt justice”.

Another objective is the defense of the rights and professional interests of judges, highlighting “the improvement of the judge’s socio-professional status, compatible with the demands and dignity of the role, effective access to occupational medicine, protecting judges from risks to their health and safety associated with the role they perform, namely ‘stress’ and ‘burnout'”.

List B, led by the judge of the Court of Appeal of Évora José Francisco Moreira das Neves, had the motto “Side by Side with the Judges — Proximity and Independence” and included several members of the outgoing board.

The ASJP represents around 90% of Portuguese judges, with around 2,300 magistrates in Portugal.

The new management is expected to take office in early April.