PortugalPolitics
PSD wants protection from lawyers in pregnancy, serious illness and grief. OA asks for approval of the measure
Publication: ECO
Author: Filipa Ambrósio de Sousa
Source published: 07/10/2026, 05:57:00 UTC
Briefing created: 25/10/2026, 11:53:43 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 07/10/2026, 06:11:24 UTC.
Briefings
The Portuguese Socialist Party (PSD) proposes a new law to extend legal protections for lawyers facing critical situations such as pregnancy, illness, or loss of gestation, allowing up to 60-day delays in court proceedings. The proposal aims to prevent judges from dismissing these requests based on case urgency, ensuring legal rights are upheld even when lawyers are vulnerable. The project was presented to the Assembly of the Republic and supported by the Portuguese Bar Association, which argues it addresses a long-standing legislative gap.
Key points
- The PSD proposes a law allowing lawyers to request a suspension of court deadlines or delays of procedural acts in cases involving pregnancy, illness, or loss of gestation, with a maximum delay of 60 consecutive days.
- The Portuguese Bar Association supports the proposal, arguing it corrects a 2009 law that allowed delays but lacked specific protections for vulnerable lawyers, emphasizing the need for legal rights to be guaranteed regardless of judicial discretion.
Context
The proposal addresses a long-standing legislative gap in Portugal's legal framework, where lawyers facing critical situations like pregnancy or illness could still face delays in court proceedings. The Portuguese Bar Association has been advocating for this change for years, seeking to ensure lawyers' rights are protected even when they are vulnerable, as highlighted in recent parliamentary meetings.
Limitations
The evidence covers specific protections for lawyers in pregnancy, illness, and loss of gestation, with a maximum delay of 60 days. The proposal does not establish automatic suspension without conditions, and the scope is limited to administrative and fiscal courts, excluding other urgent criminal and civil cases. The evidence does not include data on the number of lawyers affected, the specific number of cases, or the exact number of deputies supporting the measure.
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