Courts start processing non-urgent cases

Ljubljana, 5 May - Slovenian courts can start holding hearings again as of Tuesday, deliver rulings and serve writes in non-urgent cases. However, all safety measures still need to be taken to prevent the spreading of coronavirus, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday.

The court noted that deadlines would still not apply in non-urgent cases in which writes would be served. "For clients this means that they will be acquainted with the case but not obligated to take any steps unless they want to."

The deadlines will start to apply the day after the epidemics is over, the court said.

Until then, clients can take steps to speed up the court procedure if they wish to, the court added.

Courts limited its work to urgent matters when the coronavirus was declared, with Supreme Court president Damijan Florjančič ordering a suspension of most activities from 16 March until 15 May at the latest. During this time all procedural deadlines were frozen.

Courts handled only the most urgent cases, such as criminal procedures, asset seizures, custody cases and bankruptcies.

Parties to proceedings and their attorneys were not allowed to enter courthouses, and all communication was done online or via the telephone.

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