Courts
Assisting courts and judicial bodies in fair decision-making
The ECBA assists courts and judicial bodies by providing expert insights from European criminal defence practitioners with cross-border practice.
ECBA members contribute to improving justice in their daily advocacy before national and European courts, as well as other judicial bodies.
As an organisation, the ECBA itself also assists courts and other judicial bodies improving human rights and criminal justice, by providing expert insights from their practitioners from a European perspective.
That’s why we actively seek to identify judicial cases that may be of European-wide significance to the protection of the rights of accused persons and the rule of law and advises therein as amicus curiae or intervenes as third party.
Beyond that, the ECBA participates in dialogue with courts and judicial bodies, as well as with organisations of judicial practitioners, both at conferences and written consultations about internal procedural rules, practice directions or procedural reform.
Why Collaborate with the ECBA?
The ECBA is more than a professional association — it is a pan-European hub of expertise in criminal defence. Our members are directly involved in shaping European criminal law through litigation, advocacy, and dialogue with EU institutions. For courts and judicial bodies, this means:
Direct access to a vast network of legal experts
working across jurisdictions on cutting-edge cases and legislative reforms.
Rich, practical insights
into the realities of courtroom defence and procedural rights.
Participation in a shared mission
defending human rights, promoting fair trial standards, and upholding the rule of law in Europe.
Existing and Emerging Opportunities for Engagement
We already offer – and are continuously developing – a range of initiatives to connect courts with the ECBA network:
Amicus curiae and third-party interventions
The ECBA can contribute to fair and informed decision-making and assist national, European and international courts and judicial bodies, as well as human rights bodies, by advising and intervening in ongoing cases.
Guest Lectures and Policy Contributions
ECBA members can contribute to dialogue fostered by courts and judicial bodies, as well as organisations of judicial practitioners, on specialised topics of substance, procedure and criminal justice reform.
Upcoming Conferences and Webinars
Join us Friday 15 May, 2026 for the upcoming Extradition Challenges webinar
A Brussels court ordered Belgium to negotiate the return of a wrongly extradited person to the US — a landmark case discussed with Belgian defence lawyer Christophe Marchand.
EFCL Annual Conference 2026, 12 June 2026 in London, United Kingdom
Join the next EFCL Conference which will be a joint conference with the FLA in London!
ECBA Autumn Conference 2026, 2 and 3 October in Tirana, Albania
Join the next ECBA Autumn Conference in Tirana, Albania!
What We Offer to Courts and Judicial Bodies
The ECBA provides a unique knowledge-sharing platform where courts and judicial bodies can access:
The latest legislative briefings
position papers, and case-law analysis.
A multilingual network
of experienced criminal lawyers from across Europe.
A practical know-how pool
to enrich decision making, including real-life procedural insights.
Invitations to closed-door discussions
providing a rare look into how European criminal law in action works.
Latest Articles
Strategic litigation and court interventions
The HRC files third-party interventions and amicus briefs in landmark cases before European and domestic courts, ensuring the criminal defence bar shapes the law that governs it.
Drafting and Publishing Statements
The HRC publishes expert statements on judicial independence, lawyer-client privilege, and fair trial rights – driving policy reform and solidarity across Europe and beyond.
EPPO Webinar
The webinar hosts defence lawyers and academics or magistrates that discuss practical issues and experiences regarding EPPO cases from different countries. Their scope is to describe relevant defense issues and to advise the members of the ECBA on how to handle them.
Global Legal Community Calls for the Release of Nasrin Sotoudeh – April 2026
On 10 April 2026, the ECBA and a coalition of 30 international legal organisations issued a formal call for intervention concerning the judicial harassment...
ECBA backs call for implementation of ECtHR and CJEU judgments
The ECBA joined call for the implementation of European Court of Human Rights / Cour européenne des droits de l’homme (ECtHR) and Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) judgments.
ECBA Meets ECtHR on Case Processing and Expansion
Chair Vânia Costa Ramos and Human Rights Officer Alexis Anagnostakis attended the European Court of Human Rights’ Meeting with NGOs and Litigators in Strasbourg.
Data Retention and Encryption Workarounds
The ECBA contributes to FRA research on encryption workarounds by preparing input, questionnaires, and interviews with defence lawyers across Europe.
Renewal of the 2020 Videoconferencing Statement
The ECBA Cybercrime Working Group revises its 2020 videoconferencing statement, addressing trials in absentia, proportionality, and digital justice safeguards.
ECBA Assurance Project
States offer prison assurances to obtain surrender/extradition. These follow findings of incompliant detention conditions. We share these and seek to ensure compliance therewith.
ECBA successfully intervenes at the ECtHR in case Pietrzak vs Poland – June 2024
The European Court of Human Rights issued its judgment in the case Pietrzak and Bychawska-Siniarska and Others v. Poland in May 2024. The Court held that...
ECBA intervenes before US Military Court against evidence obtained through torture – September 2023
The European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA) has intervened as a third party in a significant case before the US Court of Military Commission Review. The...
ECBA HR Officer at the ECHR hearing in the case Pietrzak v. Poland and Bychawska-Siniarska and Others v. Poland/Hearing – September 2022
The ECBA, represented by its Human Rights Officer Alexis Anagnostakis, appeared before the European Court of Human Rights as a third party...
Where We’re Headed
We envision a future where dialogue with courts and judicial bodies is integral to the ECBA’s core mission. Our goals include:
Launching formal institutional
partnerships with courts and judicial bodies, as well as organisatons of judicial practitioners.
Creating a permanent exchange forum
with courts, judicial bodies, and organisatons of judicial practitioners.
If you are interested in a co-operation or would like to find out more in a personal meeting, please contact us!
Whether you are looking to establish a partnership, invite ECBA members to contribute to a conference, explore an amicus curiae collaboration or just have other questions, we are ready to talk. Reach out and we will find a format that works.
Contact: secretariat@ecba.org