The US Embassy once again expressed dissatisfaction with the continuation of the appointment of Supreme Court judges in Georgia
The US Embassy is once again disappointed that the Parliament continues the process of appointing judges of the Supreme Court until the completion of an independent assessment of the previous waves of judicial reform, which was agreed by the leaders of the parliament, - this is stated in a statement distributed by the US Embassy in Georgia.
"We regret that the appointment of judges takes place without the participation of members of the Supreme Council of Justice who are not judges. While the Supreme Council of Justice and Parliament hastily conducted the process of appointing judges over the past year, no action has been taken in connection with the appointment of members of the Council of Justice who are not judges, despite the fact that these positions have been vacant for months.
The Georgian people, through members of the Supreme Council of Justice who are not judges, should have a voice in choosing these influential and important judges who will be appointed judges of the Supreme Court for life. The exclusion of independent voices from this process further reinforces the impression that the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court takes place without significant transparency, accountability and impartiality. Pending the appointment of new Supreme Court judges, we urge Parliament to give priority to the appointment of impartial, independent, non-judicial members to the Supreme Council of Justice and to complete an independent assessment of previous waves of reform by spring 2022. Since independence, significant work has been done with the help of the United States and others to strengthen Georgia's justice system. Georgia's closest partners and supporters, as well as Georgia's political leaders, agree that judicial reform must continue. Now the goal should be to create an impartial, transparent and merit-based judicial system in which the Georgian people will have full confidence and which will ensure the full participation of many qualified and conscientious judges and lawyers who honestly serve to strengthen the rule of law," the statement says.
Source apsny.ge
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The US Embassy once again expressed dissatisfaction with the continuation of the appointment of Supreme Court judges in Georgia
The US Embassy is once again disappointed that the Parliament continues the process of appointing judges of the Supreme Court until the completion of an independent assessment of the previous waves of judicial reform, which was agreed by the leaders of the parliament, - this is stated in a statement distributed by the US Embassy in Georgia.
"We regret that the appointment of judges takes place without the participation of members of the Supreme Council of Justice who are not judges. While the Supreme Council of Justice and Parliament hastily conducted the process of appointing judges over the past year, no action has been taken in connection with the appointment of members of the Council of Justice who are not judges, despite the fact that these positions have been vacant for months.
The Georgian people, through members of the Supreme Council of Justice who are not judges, should have a voice in choosing these influential and important judges who will be appointed judges of the Supreme Court for life. The exclusion of independent voices from this process further reinforces the impression that the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court takes place without significant transparency, accountability and impartiality. Pending the appointment of new Supreme Court judges, we urge Parliament to give priority to the appointment of impartial, independent, non-judicial members to the Supreme Council of Justice and to complete an independent assessment of previous waves of reform by spring 2022. Since independence, significant work has been done with the help of the United States and others to strengthen Georgia's justice system. Georgia's closest partners and supporters, as well as Georgia's political leaders, agree that judicial reform must continue. Now the goal should be to create an impartial, transparent and merit-based judicial system in which the Georgian people will have full confidence and which will ensure the full participation of many qualified and conscientious judges and lawyers who honestly serve to strengthen the rule of law," the statement says.
Source apsny.ge
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