CHALLENGES POSED TO THE PORTUGUESE JUDICIAL SYSTEM MODERNIZATION

Resumo

The paper focus on perceptions that agents, workers in the Portuguese judicial system, in all their functions, have regarding the challenges that are posed to them when implementing modernization processes. Which, then, allows the authors to identify and understand the challenges and how the agents address them. The paper presents the results achieved with NVivo analysis applied to eight interviews. Those interviews were also analyzed considering their content, following Bardin’s guidelines, with some excerpts being selected to enhance the conclusions. The interviewed agents are placed in different working positions in the judicial system (Public Prosecutors, Lawyers, Notaries, Judiciary Police Agents, among others). They are systematically confronted with the need to implement reform measures. There were several challenges mentioned. However, a common aspect among those challenges is the existent gap between the judicial system projects’ definition and their degree of achievement in the field. The paper contributes to the theoretical discussion with topics such as the symbiosis of traditional and modern practices, focusing on qualitative data and considering the more significant and inevitable EU influence.