The hearings of SJC members to be shown online on the Internet

“Future members of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) will be heard at open meetings and present a concept for their work. The meetings will be broadcast on the Internet, and, if accepted, on the Bulgarian National Television,” stated Minister of Justice Diana Kovacheva after the Cabinet’s meeting yesterday, where she presented proposals for amendments to the Judicial Authority Act. The amendments aim at establishing clear and transparent rules for the election of members of the Supreme Judicial Council.

Kovacheva defended the idea SJC members to be promoted after their mandate. “Under the current law, a magistrate loses years of his career development, because, after his mandate he/she has to return to the position, occupied before the appointment at the SJC,” said Kovacheva. The unconditional promotion of the magistrates would happen if they have successfully completed their term of office. “A successful mandate is considered the one, which was completed, by the end of which the SJC member has not been dismissed, if he has not resigned, or has not been called back,” said the Minister of Justice. The mandate of the current SJC members expires in October.

The Minister of Justice explained that the direct election of SJC members from the judicial quota was postponed for the next composition of the SJC because it would be carried out electronically through a special software. “It is difficult now a meeting of 2,300 magistrates to be organized, in order to elect directly the members of the SJC,” said Kovacheva. A lot of the legal amendments, proposed by the Council of Ministers have been discussed with NGOs and are in line with the opinions of 1,200 magistrates, who work in  more than 100 courts.

Прочети цялата новина

Свързани новини: