BRATISLAVA, October 19, (WEBNOVINY) — Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska thanked the ruling coalition deputies for supporting the Cabinet’s draft amendments to laws concerning the judiciary, and for sharing with the Cabinet members the feeling that public control of the judiciary is exceptionally important for its credibility.
“The Law on the Judicial Council is the first step toward transparency of the judiciary and to its opening to public control. I believe that this step will be followed by another step and opening of the judiciary will become reality before the end of the year,” stated Zitnanska. On Tuesday evening, the Slovak Parliament approved a draft revision to the Law on the Judicial Council, and moved for further legislative procedure the draft amendment to the Law on Judges and Lay-Judges.
According to the legal norms, the Judicial Council and courts will have to publish their rulings on the Internet. Furthermore, public selection procedures should be held for the positions of judges, and appointing members to the Judicial Council will be done according to new rules. Opposition deputies for the SMER-SD party Robert Madej and Mojmir Mamojka announced that if Parliament approves the amendment to the Law on Judicial Council, they will contest it at the Constitutional Court. They are asking the court to postpone its effectiveness, as they believe it is unconstitutional.
“I am convinced that there are arguments on the side of the Cabinet, which prove why it is not good and at the same time it is not in contradiction to the Constitution, that chairmen of courts are simultaneously members of the Judicial Council. Because chairmen of courts are constituents of administration of the judiciary, of the executive, and are appointed by the minister. Judicial Council, on the other hand, is a body that should guarantee the independence of the judiciary, “ the justice minister commented.
According to the new rules, presidents and vice-presidents of district and county courts will not be able to become members of the Judicial Council. The opposition SMER-SD party wants to contest this stipulation at the Constitutional Court. Zitnanska concluded by saying that she was surprised that SMER-SD took over the rhetoric of Supreme Court President Stefan Harabin. The Supreme Court president criticizes both amendments concerning the judiciary in his address in Parliament on Tuesday.
SITA