Pedro Costa Gonçalves signs the article ‘Administrative justice 20 years after the reform’

Pedro Costa Gonçalves analyses administrative justice in Portugal over the last 20 years, noting that it has undergone a significant transformation since the 2004 reform, marked by structural and functional improvements. The article was published in Vida Judiciária.

The partner begins by saying that much has changed in the 20 years since then, such as the location and number of courts, the number of judges, the recruitment and training of judges, the modalities of proceedings, the means of action and the procedural rules.

‘The balance sheet of the process of evolution of administrative justice over these 20 years is not only positive, however. It also has some less favourable aspects: procedural delays, which show no signs of slowing down, occupy a prominent place here,’ he adds.

According to Pedro Costa Gonçalves, there is a process of growth of judicial power underway, due to the increase in techniques and instruments for judicial intervention in the control of public administrations.

‘Today's administrative justice system is clearly bigger and, above all, has much more power - effective power - than it did 20 years ago. The essence of this change has therefore consisted in the clear empowerment of the administrative courts and in taking seriously the requirement to protect the rules of administrative law,’ he concludes.

Read the full article in the attachment below.

(this article is in english only)