First half of 2026

Backlog: criminal cases pending down by 33 per cent

Stock levels have fallen from 1.44 million to 955,000

by Giovanni Negri

16 September 2026

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Versione italiana

Key points

The figures behind the decline
Disposal rate
The top-ranked venues

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The improvement in processing times goes hand in hand with a structural reduction in pending proceedings, although the first half of 2026 saw a decrease in the number of cases concluded before single-judge courts of first instance and on appeal. These figures underscore the need to consolidate the measures implemented by the judicial administration during what has certainly been an extraordinary period such as that of the NRRP, which concluded in June.

The figures behind the decline

Compared with 2019, which served as the benchmark agreed with the EU, the number of pending criminal cases fell by 30.5 per cent in the district courts, by 45.6 per cent in the courts of appeal and by 55 per cent in the Court of Cassation. Overall, the number of pending cases across the three levels of jurisdiction fell from over 1.44 million in 2019 to around 955,000 as at 30 June 2026, a reduction of 33.7 per cent.

The reduction in the backlog in the first half of 2026 was driven by a decrease in new cases at the Court of Appeal (-6.4 per cent) and an increase in cases settled at the Court of Cassation (+15.3 per cent) and in the District Court (+1.5 per cent) compared with the first half of 2025.

Disposal rate

In 2026, the Court of Appeal also recorded a fall in the number of cases settled, amounting to -15.3 per cent year-on-year, leading to a decrease in the clearance rate (clearance rate), which nevertheless remained at high levels (falling from 1.51 to 1.37). At the Court of Cassation, the clearance rate rose to its highest level since 2019, reaching 1.13, whilst the Court of First Instance has maintained a value close to parity over time (in the first half of 2026 it stood at 0.99).

The 2026 reduction in the number of cases settled at first instance affected both the sections of single-judge hearings (-8.0%) and the criminal courts (-2%). In contrast, the number of cases settled in collegiate hearings and in the preliminary investigation (GIP) and preliminary hearing (GUP) sections increased by 3 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.

The leading venues

The reductions affect 89.7 per cent of the Courts of Appeal; in particular, the Courts of Florence, Genoa, Messina and Taranto have managed to reduce their backlogs despite an increase in case duration compared with 2019, whilst Potenza, although it has reduced case duration, has recorded a slight increase in its backlog compared with 2019.

As for the courts, the reduction in the number of pending cases affected 84.3 per cent of court locations, including 14 offices which, between 2019 and the first half of 2026, saw a decrease in the number of pending cases despite an increase in the duration of proceedings. The Ministry highlights in particular the courts in Lagonegro, Tempio Pausania, Lodi, Fermo and Arezzo, which have reduced case processing times by over 70 per cent, with a corresponding reduction in the number of pending cases ranging from 65.4 per cent in Lagonegro to 77.8 per cent in Arezzo.