Перезавантаженість судів України: причини, наслідки та шляхи вирішення

The article examines the issue of the overloading of Ukraine’s judicial system, which negatively affects the efficiency of justice and public trust in judicial institutions. The main causes of this phenomenon are analyzed, including an insufficient number of judges, gaps in legislation and procedural mechanisms, and the lack of effective alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation and arbitration. The shortage of judges, combined with an increasing number of cases, leads to excessive workloads for the judiciary, which in turn reduces the quality of judicial decisions and extends case processing times. Legislative gaps and the complexity of procedural mechanisms create conditions for delays in court proceedings and abuses of procedural rights. The absence of a well-developed system of alternative dispute resolution methods forces citizens to turn to courts even in cases that could have been resolved through extrajudicial means. The consequences of court overload include a decline in the quality of judicial decisions, violations of the right to a fair trial within a reasonable timeframe, growing public distrust in the judicial system, as well as economic and social losses associated with ineffective legal protection. A comprehensive approach to solving the problem is proposed, which includes expanding the number of judges and ensuring their proper training, optimizing procedural legislation to reduce case processing times, developing and promoting alternative dispute resolution methods, and implementing electronic courts and other digital solutions to simplify judicial proceedings. The article also examines the experience of other countries, particularly European states, the United States, and Canada, in addressing court overload. It is noted that the use of digital technologies in judicial proceedings and the introduction of alternative dispute resolution methods contribute to increasing the efficiency of the judicial system and reducing the burden on courts. The implementation of the proposed reforms requires close cooperation between government agencies, civil society, and international partners. Only through joint efforts can the efficiency of Ukraine’s judicial system be improved and public trust in justice restored.