The first amendment to the Law of the Organization of the Judicial System (“LOJS”), through Law No. 40-A/2016, of 22nd December, was approved, with a view to reducing the distance between the citizen and the judicial structures, representing a clear abandonment of the legislative options in this area, adopted by the previous Government.
Therefore, from 1st of January 2017, 20 of the extinct courts will be reactivated (Sever do Vouga, Penela, Portel, Monchique, Meda, Furnas de Algodres, Bombarral, Cadaval, Castelo de Vide, Ferreira do Zêzere, Mação, Sines; Paredes de Coura, Boticas, Murça, Mesão Frio, Sabrosa, Armamar, Resende and Tabuaço), as well as 23 of the so-called sections of proximity, in which judicial acts can be retaken, namely trial hearings concerning to crimes within the jurisdiction of a court with a single judge, an amendment that was aided by the regulation of the new LOJS, through Decree-Law No. 86/2016, of 27th of December.
Finally, we highlight the creation of 7 new juvenile and family courts (Fafe, Leiria, Alcobaça, Mafra, Vila do Conde, Marco de Canaveses and Abrantes), and, also, we must refer that this competence was returned to 25 local courts.