WILLEMSTAD - The Ministers of Justice from the Netherlands, Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten have unanimously approved the recommendations of the evaluation committee to allow complex legal cases to be handled initially by multiple judges. 

This significant step marks a substantial change in the legal approach to complex cases within the Kingdom. 

During the four-country meeting, the involved ministers reached consensus on this new procedure, which will have a significant impact on the handling of complicated legal matters. The decision was made in light of the need to modernize and make the legal system more effective in dealing with complex cases, which often require a detailed and multifaceted legal approach. 

The new approach was introduced following a presentation earlier this year by the evaluation committee. This committee emphasized that using multiple chambers for complex cases is feasible, although it requires a significant effort and restructuring. The ultimate goal is to create a more efficient and fairer legal system better equipped to tackle complex legal challenges. 

Given the financial implications, it will be necessary to assess within the budget of the Joint Court of Justice whether the additional costs of more judges can be covered. 

This consensus also underscores the flexibility within the Kingdom to deviate from existing Dutch regulations. Each country within the Kingdom now has the opportunity to implement the necessary legal changes tailored to its specific legal and societal context. 

While this change offers positive prospects, the committee emphasized that the financial implications should be closely monitored. The extra costs associated with this new approach will need to be carefully considered within the budget of the Joint Court of Justice.