Reform Of The "Judicial Map" Of The Slovak Republic

• Published date: 31 May 2023
• Subject Matter: Employment and HR, Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration, Family and Matrimonial, Insolvency/Bankruptcy/Re-structuring, Financial Restructuring, Insolvency/Bankruptcy, Employee Rights/ Labour Relations, Family Law, Trials & Appeals & Compensation
• Law Firm: Kinstellar
• Author: Mr Michal Hru'ovsk' and Richard Remeník

May 2023 - From 1 June 2023, the so-called reform of the "judicial map" of Slovakia enters into force, which according to its proponents should bring faster and better decision-making by the courts and ensure better working conditions for judges. The basic premise of the reform is the specialisation of judges and courts under five main agendas'family, civil, criminal, commercial, and administrative justice. The reform is intended to increase the efficiency of the administration of justice and will lead to several changes: the dissolution of several existing courts, the creation of new courts, and the transfer of agendas between individual courts.

The reform of the "judicial map" consists of two laws: (i) Act no. 150/2022 Coll. on the amendment of certain laws in connection with new seats and court districts, and (ii) Act no. 151/2022 Coll. on the establishment of administrative courts and on the amendment of certain laws, which were approved by the National Council of the Slovak Republic on 27 April 2022.

Municipal courts in Bratislava and Koaice

The biggest change brought by the reform is the creation of new municipal courts in Bratislava and Koaice. The current District Courts Bratislava I-V will be replaced by four Municipal Courts from 1 June 2023, while the agenda will be divided between the newly established courts as follows:

• Municipal Court Bratislava I
  • criminal cases;
• Municipal Court Bratislava II
  • family law cases;
  • preliminary injunctions and other measures of the court in family law matters;
  • certain status matters of natural persons;
• Municipal Court Bratislava III
  • commercial disputes;
  • insolvency and restructuring proceedings;
  • disputes relating to arbitration;
  • promissory note and cheque disputes;
  • competition disputes;
  • unfair competition and copyright litigation;
  • disputes from stock exchange trades;
• Municipal Court Bratislava IV
  • civil disputes;
  • employment law disputes;
  • inheritance proceedings, notarial custody proceedings proceedings for confirmation of possession;
  • protective measures in civil cases ordered in another EU country.

The Commercial Register for the Bratislava Region will be maintained by the Municipal Court Bratislava III.

A new municipal court will also be established in Koaice, replacing the District Courts Koaice I, II and Koaice - surroundings.

District courts

According to the reform, the number of district courts in Slovakia will be reduced from 54 to 31, while some of the courts that will be dissolved (such...