Saakashvili vetoes amendments to bill setting 3-year trial period for judges

Outgoing President Mikheil Saakashvili vetoed the amendments to the law on common courts that envisaging setting three-year probationary period for newly recruited judges before their appointment for life.

Parliament passed the amendments in the law with its final reading on October 4. According to Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili, the Committee of Legal Affairs will discuss the Presidents objections this week. On Friday the PMs will try to override Presidential Veto.

Appointment of judges before retirement is envisaged by new constitutional model, which will go into force after the inauguration of president-elect Giorgi Margvelashvili on November 17. Currently, sitting judges hold office for a ten-year term.

Moreover, the amendments to the law on common courts also envisage increasing the minimal age of newly recruited judges from 28 to 30.