Controversial judge appointed for life to Court of Appeals
Levan Murusidze’s name is connected with the high-profile murder case of Sandro Girgvliani under the United National Movement government.Photo: IPN.
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The High Council of Justice (HCJ), an independent body responsible for the selection and appointment of judges, has appointed Levan Murusidze, a judge disliked by the civil sector and many in the Georgian Dream ruling party, as a lifetime judge to the Court of Appeals.
Georgian Vice-Parliament Speaker Tamar Chugoshvili, who criticized the most recent list of judges for the Supreme Court offered by the council to parliament for confirmation, says that Murusidze’s appointment is the council’s response to the decision of parliament to temporarily suspend the confirmation of judges.
Two non-judge members of the HCJ Anna Dolidze and Nazi Janezashvili have called the HCJ’s decision “shameful” which will be “definitely responded to by the public.”
Murusidze claims that he is a “victim of a black PR stunt” and there is “no clan” of judges in the court system which makes major decisions, as Dolidze and Janezashvili say.
Before being appointed to the new position, Murusidze had to answer questions of HCJ members regarding his role in the high-profile cases of Sandro Girgvliani, Sulkhan Molashvili and others.
He stated that he as a judge made a decision to decrease the sentences for the murders of Girgvliani, as “it was impossible to make a different decision based off the law.”
Murusidze, who previously served on the Supreme Court, was appointed as a judge of the Court of Appeals with a probationary period of three years in 2015.
The civil sector and the Georgian Dream ruling party members say that procedures needed to be refined regarding the selection and appointment of judges.
The issue was particularly pushed forward after the 24 December decision of the HCJ when it presented the list of 10 judges to the Supreme Court of Georgia without previous consultations.
The civil sector and Chugoshvili stated that several names on the list were affiliated with biased judiciary and politically motivated cases.
Head of the Parliament’s Legal Committee Eka Beselia resigned yesterday and stated that the reason for her decision was the “unacceptable process” related to the judges.
Head of Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee Eka Beselia has quit the post and stated at a briefing today that her decision was related to the “hasty and unacceptable” process of lifetime appointment of judges with a “controversial past” to the Supreme Court of Georgia.
Ten judges who have been nominated by the High Council of Justice for the Supreme Court of Georgia have triggered controversies and criticism in the public and civil sector, as several of the judges “are affiliated with the United National Movement government and biased judiciary”, several members of the HCJ and NGOs say.
Georgian Vice Parliament Speaker Tamar Chugoshvili has stated that the High Council of Justice (HCJ), an independent body which is responsible for the selection and appointment of judges, should start considering of the public view.
A high official within the Presidential Administration believes the country’s justice system requires "fundamental reforming” as otherwise the public could lose trust in the country’s justice system.
Levan Murusidze, who has been appointed as a judge on the court of appeals, has called upon the civil sector to organise discussions which will help him end a “deliberate negative campaign” against him.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze has denied any connection between the fact that the Legal Affairs Committee head Eka Beselia and its member Gedevan Popkhadze left the ruling party majority and the controversial process of appointing judges in the country.
The Georgian Dream ruling party has asked the Council of Europe Venice Commission to get involved in the drafting of a bill which will set criteria for the selection and the appointment of Georgian judges.
The Georgian parliament must ensure transparency in judicial reform, including the appointment of judges, the ambassadors of the European Union and the United States Carl Hartzell and Kelly Degnan, and Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tbilisi Natalia Voutova say in a letter sent to Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava.