ICAM denounces Digital Justice deficiencies
On the occasion of International Lawyer’s Day, celebrated yesterday February 3rd, the Ilustre Colegio de la Abogacía de Madrid (ICAM) has raised the alarm over severe deficiencies in the Horus platform, the system used for accessing the Electronic Judicial File (EJE). The institution warns that these technological shortcomings pose a direct threat to the right of defense, creating barriers to equal access to judicial information.
Among the most pressing concerns, the ICAM highlights that not all legal professionals have the same level of access to the platform. Judges and prosecutors reportedly benefit from more streamlined and efficient access, while lawyers and legal representatives face significant obstacles. This disparity, the ICAM argues, undermines the principle of equality of arms, a cornerstone of any fair judicial process.
Additionally, the poor organization of electronic case files further complicates legal work. According to the ICAM, Horus lacks a clear chronological order, making it difficult for lawyers to navigate case documentation efficiently.
Another critical issue is the absence of a unified regulatory framework governing digital case files. “There is no specific regulation that standardizes the Electronic Index of judicial records or establishes a uniform access protocol for lawyers and legal representatives,” the institution states. Moreover, technical inconsistencies between different regional judicial systems create territorial disparities, further complicating access to justice.
The ICAM’s response: A call for reform
In response to these challenges, the ICAM has launched the Guide to Lawyers’ Rights in Digital Justice, a key document that denounces the failures of the Horus platform and the EJE system. It also sets out minimum guarantees to ensure that digital transformation does not infringe upon the fundamental rights of legal professionals.
“The right to defense cannot be compromised by inefficient digitalization,” stressed Eugenio Ribón, Dean of the ICAM. “Lawyers must have the same access to case files as other legal professionals. The ICAM will work tirelessly to guarantee this.”
The impact on Public Legal Services
The failures of the Horus system are particularly damaging to public legal services, such as the duty lawyer system (Turno de Oficio), where professionals already face structural challenges in their daily work.
“Duty lawyers are seeing how the digital divide is becoming yet another obstacle in their work. We cannot demand the highest level of professionalism and efficiency from them while providing them with subpar digital tools. We demand an immediate solution to guarantee a high-quality public legal service,” declared Juan Manuel Mayllo, ICAM Deputy for Duty Lawyers.
A direct line for Complaints
To document these issues and press for urgent reforms, the ICAM has launched a new complaint procedure, allowing lawyers to report irregularities and technical difficulties they encounter when accessing Horus. “Through this channel, lawyers can formally document access problems, providing concrete evidence to demand solutions from the relevant authorities,” explained Javier Mata, ICAM Deputy for Legal Defense.
Moreover, the institution has announced its intention to meet with the Ministry of Justice, the State Technical Committee for Electronic Judicial Administration (CTEAJE), and parliamentary groups to demand a proper regulatory framework for the EJE system and the Horus platform.
“The legal profession will not allow the digital transformation of the justice system to compromise the right of defense or create inequalities in access to judicial information. Justice must be transparent, legally secure, and equally accessible to all. Digitalization must be a step forward, not a barrier.”, concluded Eugenio Ribón.