Judiciary sounded the alarm over additional tasks to safeguard the right to refuse testimony, but invested little in knowledge and capacity

The judiciary in the Netherlands has struggled to implement a new filtering task for confidential attorney-client communications, as mandated by the Supreme Court in 2024. Despite the increased workload, only fourteen additional staff members were hired, with no investments in IT or training. This lack of resources has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the filtering process, leading to complaints from legal professionals. The Ministry of Justice has since amended legislation, shifting some responsibilities back to the Public Prosecution Service, which has been met with discontent from the legal community. The issue has gained attention in the Dutch Parliament, with calls for more investment in the judiciary's capacity to handle these responsibilities effectively.