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On 18–20 March of this year, Dr. Danguolė Bublienė, President of the Supreme Court of Lithuania, participated in a meeting of the Board of the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union, held in Brno, Czechia. During the meeting, the Board discussed current issues relating to the Network’s activities in 2026 as well as strategic matters concerning 2027.

During the visit, the Board members also took part in the public event “Night in Law,” organised by the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic. The event focused on two main topics: the duration of court proceedings and opportunities to improve their efficiency, and communication between courts and the public. Each Board member, including the President of the Supreme Court of Lithuania, presented the experience, perspectives, and national particularities of their respective country.

According to the EU Justice Scoreboard published by the European Commission, Lithuania and Czechia are among the fastest countries in the European Union in terms of case processing. The latest 2025 data indicate that civil and commercial cases in Lithuania are resolved on average within 120 days in courts of first instance and within 71 days in appellate courts. Administrative cases, meanwhile, are resolved in courts of first instance in an average of only 64 days—one of the best results across the EU.

According to statistics of the Supreme Court of Lithuania, the average duration of proceedings in 2025 was 146 days for civil cases, 185 days for criminal cases, and 173 days for administrative cases.

Nevertheless, the discussion highlighted that the length of judicial proceedings remains a relevant issue for all countries. According to Dr. D. Bublienė, efforts to accelerate proceedings must not come at the expense of the quality of justice, and it is therefore essential to continuously seek a balance between efficiency and quality. Participants were also interested in whether the countries represented have mechanisms for reallocating already assigned cases among judges in order to address delays and whether artificial intelligence is being used in such processes.

Considerable attention was also devoted to communication between courts, the public, and the media. According to Dr. D. Bublienė, Lithuanian courts regard open, clear, and proactive communication as one of their key priorities, a commitment that is also reflected in the judiciary’s strategic documents. European countries agree that informing the public about the work of the courts and the administration of justice is essential; however, they also recognise that courts face specific communication challenges, as they cannot employ all of the public relations tools commonly available to other institutions.

Dr. D. Bublienė emphasised that the public engagement model implemented by the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic demonstrated that direct dialogue between courts and society can be a significant means of strengthening public trust in the judiciary and enhancing understanding of its work. Although this was the first meeting of the Board of the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union to involve direct engagement with members of the public, it was regarded as an unequivocal success and a highly meaningful initiative that could be further developed in other countries.“Events of this kind demonstrate that, despite national differences, countries face similar challenges in judicial communication. The Supreme Court of Lithuania is systematically developing initiatives aimed at openness and public engagement by organising various events, educational activities, and meetings tailored to different age groups—from schoolchildren to senior citizens. Court Day, A Day with a Judge, Culture Night, exhibitions at the Supreme Court, and other initiatives have become established traditions. People look forward to these events, show genuine interest, and register in advance. Such measures not only enhance legal literacy among the public but also encourage dialogue, enabling a better understanding of the role of the courts and the challenges they face in modern society,” stated Dr. D. Bublienė.

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Media contacts:
Tautvilė Merkevičiūtė
Supreme Court of Lithuania
Public Relations Officer of the Office of the President
Mobile: +370 685 84863
Email: t.merkeviciute@lat.lt
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