CMK: How Mandatory Criminal Defense Duty Works in Turkey

In Turkey, every suspect has the right to a defense lawyer. When they cannot afford one, the bar association appoints a lawyer under the CMK (Criminal Procedure Code) duty system. For lawyers, CMK duty is both a professional obligation and a logistics challenge.

How CMK Duty Works

Lawyers register for the CMK duty roster at their bar association.

When police or prosecutors need a defense lawyer, the bar assigns the next available lawyer on the list.

Calls come at any hour — including nights and weekends — and the lawyer must respond quickly.

The Coordination Problem

Most CMK duty rosters are still managed through WhatsApp groups, spreadsheets, and phone chains. This creates real problems:

Missed assignments: A lawyer misses the notification buried in a busy group chat.

Unfair distribution: No transparent record of who took how many duties.

No audit trail: Bars cannot easily measure response times or coverage.

A Digital Alternative

JuriLoop provides a dedicated CMK duty tracking and referral tool for lawyers: automatic ordering, instant notifications, and a proper record of every assignment. CMK duty tracking is completely free.

Learn more: https://juriloop.com/en

---
*This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a lawyer for your specific situation.*