Legal professions

Thousands of lawyers are set to convene in the capital Ankara on April 27 for a major "defense rally" to call for the elevation of standards and quality in their profession and to put an end to the escalating violence against their colleagues.

The decisions of the Supreme Court - The judges showed their human face to a First Judge who faced repeated serious health problems and yet changed her image radically

Four prominent international organizations representing magistrates have issued a resounding call to action, urging the Council of Europe and the European Union to intervene swiftly in response to alarming threats faced by Bulgarian judges.

The Council of Europe's anti-corruption body GRECO had criticized Greece's refusal to allow peers to be involved in the process of appointing senior judges and prosecutors.

The 47-year-old father of the self-described "early Christian" family living in the Corinthia municipality, Peloponnese, in a makeshift dwelling without modern rudimentary facilities, was arrested on Sunday for failure to comply with the compulsory education requirement for his three minor children.

Thousands of legal cases will soon be handled outside of courtrooms and be resolved by lawyers and some by notaries, according to a Justice Ministry bill aiming to decongest Greece's judicial system.

The ministry views unburdening the courts as essential as a World Bank study ranks Greece 146th worldwide in delays in administering justice.

Bekir Şahin, the head of the General Prosecution Office of the Court of Appeals, has proposed changing the body's name to the "General Prosecution Office of the Turkish Republic" in a bid to enhance its international standing and better reflect its role.

Bulgarian lawmakers made significant strides with the second reading of constitutional amendments, endorsing a pivotal change in the process of appointing and dismissing the Prosecutor General.

Also this morning, reports of planted bombs were received at primary and secondary schools throughout Belgrade, and the police carried out checks at those locations. Children and employees have been evacuated from schools, and while some are waiting to return to classes, some schools have sent notices to parents to pick up their children.

Two people suffered minor injuries when metal shelves loaded with case files collapsed in the registry of the Athens First Instance Prosecutor's Office, the association representing court clerks in the capital has said.

Other employees and members of the public had to free the two people - a court clerk and transport company employee- from beneath the pile of shelves and files.