Defense attorneys handling criminal and family law cases in Denmark will now receive the same legal protections as other courtroom actors, thanks to a new agreement on criminal justice reform.

The agreement, reached on Wednesday, extends coverage of Penal Code § 119 to appointed lawyers. This means threats against these lawyers will be punished as severely as threats against public servants like prosecutors and judges.

The Danish Bar and Law Society has applauded the upcoming amendment. According to Secretary General Andrew Hjuler Chrichton, the organization has been advocating for lawyer protection for years due to the prevalence of threats against lawyers and their families.

Chrichton emphasized the importance of this protection for both individual lawyers and the rule of law. The aim is to prevent lawyers from being intimidated into avoiding certain types of cases or clients.

In Denmark, courts typically appoint lawyers in most family and criminal cases. These lawyers are obligated to accept the cases and are compensated by the government.

Earlier attempts by the Conservative People’s Party and other parties to amend the penal code failed due to opposition from the government, the Socialist People’s Party, and the Unity List. However, the new broad political agreement on criminal justice reform has brought about a change in stance.

A survey revealed that approximately one in three lawyers dealing with family law or criminal cases have experienced threats and harassment within the last two years.