Speaking at the 2024-2025 Judicial Year Opening Ceremony at Antalya Courthouse, Chairman of the Judicial Justice Commission for the First Instance Courts, Oğuzhan Yaşar, stated, “Our main goal is to further elevate the trust index in justice.” The ceremony took place in the courtyard of Antalya Courthouse, attended by Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin, Chief Public Prosecutor Yakup Ali Kahveci, Chairman of the Judicial Justice Commission Oğuzhan Yaşar, Akdeniz University Rector Özlenen Özkan, Provincial Police Chief İlker Arslan, deputy chief prosecutors, judges, prosecutors, Antalya Bar Association President Hüseyin Geçilmez, and courthouse personnel.
After a moment of silence and the National Anthem, Oğuzhan Yaşar began his speech by honoring the memory of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, his heroic comrades, and all the martyrs. He provided statistics on the workload of the courthouse and condemned the genocide that has been inflicted on the Palestinian people for months.
Yaşar shared the workload handled by the Antalya Courthouse, stating: “We managed around 130,000 investigation and complaint files, 33,057 criminal case files, and 58,929 civil case files in the previous judicial year. I would like to extend my gratitude to my colleagues and dedicated personnel for resolving 89% of these cases.”
33,800 Case Files Were Reviewed Last Year
Yaşar emphasized that with the rapid developments in the digital field, 5 of the 11 high criminal courts are dedicated solely to these cases. “Last year, these five courts alone dealt with 3,459 case files. Additionally, in Antalya, there are seven prisons, and the 33,800 case files regarding the sentences and procedures of detainees and convicts were handled by four enforcement judges,” he said.
The Judicial Workload Has Increased
Yaşar mentioned that the courthouse, which opened in 2008, is now too small due to Antalya's continuous growth and migration. “We have relocated our 8 enforcement courts and 4 consumer courts to our additional building near the stadium. Additionally, our 16 enforcement offices have been restructured into 4 pilot enforcement offices as part of the pilot enforcement project. The administrative courts and election offices previously located in our additional building have now been moved to the regional courthouse building,” he explained.
“The increase in population, economic and technological developments, and advances in science have led to a further rise in our judicial workload. In this regard, the 13th Labor Court and the 20th and 21st Civil Courts of First Instance have commenced operations today,” he added.
We Strive to Speed Up Judicial Processes
Yaşar also noted that Antalya Courthouse operates with 198 judges, 132 public prosecutors, and 1,544 personnel. “Our goal is to meet the expectations for justice within a reasonable time frame and to complete investigations and trials within the target periods. We are fully aware that justice delayed is justice denied. We carry out our duties by always upholding the rule of law. Our duty is to ensure that justice, the foundation of the state, is delivered swiftly, effectively, and fairly. With this consciousness, we are committed to speeding up judicial processes in the new judicial year so that our citizens can obtain their rights in a timely manner. Elevating the trust index in justice is our ultimate goal. I sincerely believe that we will be in an even better position in the coming judicial year,” he concluded.
The ceremony ended with a reception in the courtyard. – ANTALYA
Kaynak: İHA
