The law world misjudges the decision of the Larisa Court of Appeal that expelled the Bar Associations from the Tempes trial

The Coordinating Committee of the plenary of the Presidents of the Greek Bar Associations, the decision of the Larisa Court of Appeals to expel the Bar Associations in support of a charge in the trial for the Tempian railway accident.

It is recalled that the Larisa Court of Appeals with a limited majority of 2-1 and a minority of the president and despite the opposition prosecutor's proposal, it did not accept the performance statements to support the category of Bar Associations and the statement of the Association "Panhellenic Association of Personnel Attractions". On the contrary, he accepted the statement by the Greek State and the statements made on the offence of violating the duty concerning three of the 36 defendants in total.

At the same time, the coordinating committee emphasises that the ruling of the Larisa Court of Appeals is in complete contradiction with the case law of the courts and in particular the recent judgment of the Supreme Court on how loans under the Katseli Act are to be settled.

More specifically, the Communication from the Coordination Committee is as follows:

‘The Coordinating Committee of the plenary of the Presidents of the Bar Associations at its meeting today on the occasion of the decision of the Larisa Court of Appeals regarding the representation of the Bar Associations in support of a charge in the ‘Temby trial’, issued the following communication:

Today's court decision, with a marginal majority of 2-1, of a minority of the President and despite the opposing prosecutor's proposal, is respected but also wrong.

It is in complete contradiction with the case law of the courts to date, with the most recent decision of the Supreme Court plenary and the letter and purpose of the order of the article. 90, c.g. the Code of Lawyers, which expressly provides that, for any matter of national, social, cultural or economic interest, the Bar Associations may submit a statement of political action before any criminal court, any degree of jurisdiction in Greece, the European Union, and any international court.

The Coordinating Committee considers that the law body with its interventions and participation contributed substantially to the investigation of the case and the progress of the trial and will continue to contribute in every way.

The law body, within its institutional role and responsibilities, will continue to be present on major national and social issues and will consistently and unwaveringly defend the State of Law.".