Brussels appeals court suspends hearings due to chronic under-staffing

The court of appeal in Brussels has suspended the handling of certain cases due to structural understaffing, it has announced.

“The Brussels Court of Appeal regrets this situation, which it has been condemning for years without receiving a positive response that befits the tasks entrusted to this court of a federal, European, international and also community and regional capital,” the announcement said.

“The court is doing everything it can to limit the damage for those seeking justice in the Brussels jurisdiction. That remains its absolute priority.”

The suspension is said to mainly involve French-speaking civil cases and out-of-court settlements.

A French-speaking criminal chamber has been opened for short debates as a means to limit the extent of the problem.

Describing it as "a perfect storm", the court noted "structural understaffing of magistrates and clerks" and a "complete absence of a framework for the federal prosecutor's office to judge the cases" as factors forcing it to shelve certain cases for now.

Criminal cases of the 14th French-speaking chamber have not been heard since November 2024, the court said.