Divorces to be settled outside courtroom under govt measure

(ANSA) - Rome, April 24 - The justice ministry has proposed accelerating divorce procedures in Italy by allowing couples to settle outside the courtroom. Justice Minister Andrea Orlando said the measure was necessary to "resolving disputes between individuals" and replacing the current system, which is "among the most backward on the continent" in its requirement that a judge be present under all circumstances. A judge would still be required in some cases, such as couples with children, according to the measure. Divorce has been legal in Italy since the early 1970s. The acceleration measure was introduced to the House on Wednesday. The EU has repeatedly rapped Italy for having one of the slowest legal systems in Europe.