by Lieutenant General (Ret.) K. H. Konstantinidis
Plato
“Can you really find any greater proof of the shameful upbringing of the citizens of a city than the fact that it needs competent judges and physicians, not only for the wicked and the badly brought up, but also for those who pretend that they have been raised in a noble manner, as befits free men?
Or does it not seem to you a shameful thing, and the greatest proof of lack of education, that a man should be compelled to resort to justice imposed upon him by others—so to speak, by judges and masters—and should not have justice within himself?
Indeed,” he said, “that is the worst of all.”
“Surely,” I said, “you will agree that there is something even more shameful, something which I am about to tell you: that a man not only spends the greater part of his life either as plaintiff or defendant, but is so insensitive that he even believes he should be admired for being clever at injustice—for knowing all the tricks and evasions, for twisting and turning and slipping away like an eel so that he may not be caught by the grasp of justice.
And what is worse, he does not know how to appreciate how much nobler and better it is to arrange his life in such a way that he has no need of any sleepy judge.”
“Indeed,” he replied, “that is even more shameful than the former.”
Commentary
Our ancestors, too, had problems with justice, and even today, despite the development of technology, we have not managed to improve the situation substantially.
Yet Justice, as a cornerstone of democratic government, also reflects the quality of our democracy.
The most serious problems concerning the administration of justice are the following:
1. Delays in the adjudication of cases
The long period required before a final judgment is issued is one of the most serious problems. Delays can substantially diminish the value of judicial protection itself.
2. The large volume of cases
Courts are burdened with a very large number of cases, making it difficult for judges and court staff to respond in a timely manner.
3. Shortages of personnel and infrastructure
Judges alone are not enough. There must be sufficient court personnel, modern administrative services, adequate technical equipment, and suitable court facilities.
4. Complexity of legislation — Overlegislation
The frequent amendment of laws and the multitude of legal provisions make the legal framework difficult to understand and apply. Anyone who has ever become involved in a legal dispute will know this better than anyone.
5. Bureaucracy
Procedures that could be completed quickly still, in many cases, require numerous stages and documents.
6. The cost of access to justice
Lawyers’ fees, court costs, and the long duration of legal proceedings can make the pursuit of justice difficult for financially weaker citizens.
7. Difficulties in enforcing judgments
The issuing of a court decision does not always mean that a citizen will actually obtain justice quickly in practice. Effective enforcement is an essential part of the administration of justice.
8. The need for greater digitalization
Electronic filing, digital access to case files, and faster electronic communication can significantly reduce delays and bureaucracy.
9. The need to maintain citizens’ trust
Justice must not only be independent and impartial; it must also be seen to be independent, impartial, and effective.
10. Balancing speed and quality
A speedy decision is not enough. A judgment must be properly reasoned, fair, and consistent with the law. Therefore, the objective should not simply be “fast justice,” but rather “timely and high-quality justice.”
11. Citizens must learn to live within the law
Citizens should learn to live within the law so that they do not need—as Plato says—to resort to the courts.
In a single sentence: the great challenge is for Justice to be at the same time independent, impartial, accessible, high-quality, and timely.
Yet every political party that comes to power attempts to control the judiciary so that it can commit injustices without being held accountable.
If even one of these elements is missing, the citizen’s judicial protection is weakened.
(11 August 2026)
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Konstantinos Konstantinidis
Author – Member of the Society of Greek Literary Writers
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