Parliament Speaker says selection of Supreme Court judges will be transparent, democratic

Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze said legislators will vote on the candidacy of the Supreme Court judges in a transparent manner in line with democratic standards.

The High Council of Justice of Georgia, a body which is responsible for the selection and appointment of Supreme Court judges released a final list of 20 candidates earlier this month.

The list includes Chief Prosecutor Shalva Tadumadze and his deputy Mamuka Vasadze, as well as current head of the Constitutional Court Zaza Tavadze and Secretary of the High Council of Justice Giorgi Mikautadze.

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OSCE/ODIHR said in its recent report that “the nomination and appointment of Supreme Court Judges in Georgia is lacking transparency and accountability despite some positive measures to build public trust in the judiciary”. 

ODIHR Director Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir said it is “crucial to have a fair, independent and transparent process to ensure that only the most qualified and competent candidates are appointed.”

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Speaker Talakvadze said the Georgian parliament respects all the international reports and recommendations, including the ODIHR. 

He said the candidates will be asked “all the important questions” and only afterwards will MPs make a decision whether or not to approve individual candidates and the list as a whole.