Fourth Judicial Reform Strategy Document

The Fourth Justice Reform Strategy Document, issued by the Republic of Türkiye on 23 January 2025, is a comprehensive plan designed to make the judicial system more efficient, transparent and accessible. Covering the period 2025–2029, the document has been developed within a framework grounded in the supremacy of law. Described as Türkiye’s first justice reform strategy document of the Century, it aims to introduce structural improvements and innovations in the administration of justice.

Announcement of the Document

The Fourth Justice Reform Strategy Document was officially presented to the public on 23 January 2025 at a ceremony held at the Beştepe National Congress and Exhibition Center by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The event was attended by the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, the Vice President of the Republic, the Presidents of the Court of Cassation and the Council of State, the President of the Constitutional Court, the Minister of Justice, senior judicial officials, academics, representatives of civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders. During the ceremony, President Erdoğan shared with the public the key objectives outlined in the document and the overall framework of the reform process.

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç provided details regarding the preparation process of the document and assessed the implementation roadmap for the activities included in it. During the meeting, a document bearing the inscription “Justice is the Foundation of the State” was presented to President Erdoğan.

Preparation Process

The preparation of the Fourth Justice Reform Strategy Document was coordinated by the Ministry of Justice over a period of more than one year. The following activities were carried out during the preparatory phase:

• Analysis of national and international judicial systems: Best practices and regulatory frameworks from various countries, particularly those of the European Union, were examined.
• Citizen participation: Over 56,000 citizens submitted feedback and suggestions through the official platform “yargireformu.adalet.gov.tr” established by the Ministry of Justice.
• Stakeholder surveys: Surveys were conducted with 12,000 legal professionals and institutions.
• Statistical and data analysis: Existing statistics on Türkiye’s justice system were evaluated and targeted solutions were proposed for key areas.
• Contributions from international justice advisors: Input was gathered from justice advisors serving in various countries.

Structure of the Document

The document contains five main objectives, 45 targets and 264 activities. These objectives and their core components are as follows:

Strengthening institutional structures and restructuring processes:

Strengthening human resource capacity:

Enhancing the effectiveness of the criminal justice system:

Improving the efficiency of civil and administrative judicial procedures:

Facilitating access to justice:

Targets and Activities

Among the 45 targets and 264 activities outlined in the document, the following stand out:

• Digital transformation: Development of artificial intelligence-supported judicial systems and implementation of electronic case management platforms.
• Alternative dispute resolution: Expanding the scope of non-litigious resolution methods such as mediation and conciliation.
• Notary reforms: Creation of new professional roles such as notary assistants.
• Combating violence against women: Training specialized prosecutors for domestic violence cases and expanding the network of dedicated offices.
• Child protection: Safeguarding children during judicial proceedings and expanding restorative justice practices.

Previous Justice Reform Strategy Documents

The Fourth Justice Reform Strategy Document builds upon the three previous strategy documents:

1. 2009: First Justice Reform Strategy Document.
2. 2015: The second document accelerated the reform process.
3. 2019: The third document focused on enhancing judicial independence and transparency.
4. 2025: The fourth document continues this trajectory by both improving existing structures and addressing emerging needs.