Paolo Zangrillo, the Italian Minister for Public Administration, has raised concerns about the self-evaluation of judges and public prosecutors in light of a proposed law that mandates performance assessments for all public employees. The law, which has already been approved by the Chamber of Deputies, aims to enhance accountability and work efficiency within the public sector. However, the judiciary, particularly judges and prosecutors, are exempt from these evaluations, leading to criticism regarding their lack of accountability.

Zangrillo pointed out striking statistics showing that 99.6% of judges receive positive evaluations from the Judiciary Higher Council (Csm), which they themselves oversee. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the current evaluation system, especially considering that thousands of individuals have been wrongfully imprisoned in Italy over the past thirty years. He argues that this self-regulating mechanism does not facilitate justice and suggests that without reform, the integrity of the judicial system remains in jeopardy.

The debate comes at a time when there is increasing pressure for judicial reform in Italy. With many advocating for greater transparency and accountability, the exclusion of judges from performance assessments could undermine public trust in the judiciary. As the proposed law moves to the Senate for further debate, it remains to be seen how lawmakers will address the issues of judicial accountability and the need for comprehensive reform in this sector.