BRATISLAVA, January 4, (WEBNOVINY) — Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska (SDKU-DS) said on Wednesday that open contests for posts of court chairmen brought a new experience to the courts where no one applied. “It’s as if system change was something unusual in that environment. As if the judges were afraid that their credibility might lessen if they were unsuccessful in the contest for court chairman,” said Zitnanska. Her opinion is that some judges were not used to competition and to consider as normal that they sometimes may succeed and sometimes lose.
Zitnanska said her experience with contests for court chairmen which took place for the first time in December is positive. “That openness and the fact that we’ve presented what the contest would look like together with random selection of tests, case studies etc., it’s as if it increased the trustworthiness of the contests,” said the minister. According to her, this is underlined by the fact that thirty applicants applied for two offices. “Then the judiciary is really able to choose,” she added.
Since new legislation on selecting court chairmen was adopted, twenty contests for the post took place. Currently, 24 contests which the minister called in November 2011 for chairmen of 24 district and one county court, terms of which are to expire soon, are taking place. Two contests for judges at district courts also took place according to the new legislation; three out of 43 candidates were successful.
A package of amendments to the law on judges which entered into force in May 1, 2011 changed the way new judges and court chairmen are selected in public contests. CVs of the candidates are public as well. Names of the selection committee members are made public 15 days prior to its launch and anyone can file an objection against any candidate.
SITA