Implementing NRRP policies and the interest groups perspective in the justice sector: the “Ufficio per il processo” reform

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the justice sector, the main objective of NRRP policies is to enhance the performance of the judiciary through comprehensive actions that impact various areas, including the courts, organizational matters, civil and criminal proceedings, alternative dispute resolution, digitization, judicial and staff training, and judicial governance. This context presents an excellent opportunity for a new cycle of policy design and implementation. The article focuses specifically on the Ufficio per il processo (literally, ‘Office for the trial’), an organizational reform that introduces new staff to support court proceedings. This reform is expected to have a broad and cross-cutting impact for at least two reasons. Firstly, it is instrumental in implementing the entire package of NRRP policies, where the efficiency of court proceedings depends significantly on the resources available to judges and clerks. Secondly, it highlights the interconnections between the judicial function and court management. The article analyses the influence exerted by key interest groups (such as the National Association of Magistrates and the National Bar Council) during the implementation phase of the reform, considering the transition from the Draghi to the Meloni Government. In the conclusions, the article identifies the dynamics that concretely shaped the Ufficio per il processo reform through the interaction between political powers and interest groups.