File parts missing
New hurdle: Viennese lawyers go on the barricades
Missing file sections and bureaucratic barriers: Renowned Viennese criminal defense lawyers are calling for better insight into electronic files. The judiciary would "unnecessarily complicate" the work of lawyers.
Digital file management saves travel, time and tons of paper. But even a system that promises simplification can lead to complications - Vienna's criminal defense lawyers can tell you a thing or two about it. In Vienna's Café Edison next to the Vienna Provincial Court, several top lawyers complain about the hurdles they now have to deal with.
Criminal records classified as "sensitive"
For example, a regulation introduced by the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office on 1 February changed everything at the service center in Landl: "For years, we were able to obtain compact information on the status of proceedings there using the power of attorney. Now we can only do this by inspecting the files, which we have to apply for all the time," says Peter Philipp, the doyen of Vienna's criminal defense lawyers.
As long as the lawyer is authorized, he is entitled to inspect the files. It should not be necessary to constantly submit applications.
Rechtsanwalt Peter Philipp
Bild: Gerhard Bartel
It is unsatisfactory that a lawyer is only granted access to the digital file for a limited period of time, usually a few weeks.
Rechtsanwalt Philipp Wolm
Bild: Gerhard Bartel
The fact that the police classify parts of the electronic file as "sensitive", which cannot be viewed by the defense lawyers, causes additional annoyance: "Relevant information has been unavailable to us for several months. For example, clients' criminal records," criticizes Alexander Philipp, also a defence lawyer.
Access to justice is becoming increasingly difficult for us criminal defense lawyers due to new, incomprehensible hurdles.
Rechtsanwalt Manfred Ainedter
Bild: Gerhard Bartel
The electronic file is practical, but hopefully the security against unauthorized access is 100% secure.
Rechtsanwalt Rudolf Mayer
Bild: Gerhard Bartel
And gets support from top lawyers Rudolf Mayer, Philipp Wolm and Manfred Ainedter. "Knowing what previous convictions a client has is at the heart of our work," says Ainedter, pointing out that the Supreme Court ruled back in August 2022 that such restrictions on access to files do not comply with the law. "Things that worked perfectly are being unnecessarily complicated by the judiciary," the lawyers agree.
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