Automatic Lawyer Appointment system closed down by bars for 24 hours

Photo (from an action by lawyers in front of Ankara courthouse): sendika.org

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Sixty-five bar associations decided to close down the Automatic Attorney Assignment system for 24 hours, starting at 12 a.m. last night (December 20).

The bars are demanding that the Automatic Lawyer Appointment system fees (CMK fees) should be raised to a level appropriate for the dignity of attorneyship and the economic conditions of the day and that the VAT rate should be lowered to 1 percent.

The bars have jointly announced yesterday that they learned "no concrete and adequate steps have been taken or would be taken" concerning their demands and that the Automatic Lawyer Appointment system will be closed down for 24 hours.

Bekir Bozdağ, the Minister of Justice shared a tweet after the announcement of the action, reminding that the new fees for the automatic assignment of lawyers will be set and applied to start on January 1, and said "closing of the CMK automatic assignment system is an abuse of a right and it means that our citizens who should receive a legal service will suffer consequences."

September meeting of chairpersons of bars

The chairpersons of 81 bar associations of Türkiye met on September 5, 2022. A decision was taken in this meeting to slow down the CMK services first and then to stop the services step by step according to the developments in relation to the demands.

The bars slowed down the system on September 13, 2022, after which a meeting was held between the Union of Bar Associations of Türkiye (TBB) and the Ministry of Justice.

The bar associations have announced that in the 24 hours of closing down of the system, lawyer appointments will only be made for children and women who are victims of violence or abuse for 24 hours in case the related units communicate their requests to the bars. (AEK/PE)