US, EU welcome bill on judicial reform in Georgia ‘drafted with broad consensus’
The EU and US embassies say that they will welcome the approval of the bill by the Georgian parliament.Photo: ecourts.gov.in.
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The US Embassy to Georgia and the European Union delegation to the country say that they welcome the final bill on the “fourth wave” of judicial reform in Georgia, which has been made as a result of a broad consensus in a working group composed of different players, including the international community, civil society and the judicial sector.
In our view, the draft incorporates our key recommendations, based on best international practices that aim to create greater transparency, accountability and independence in Georgia’s judiciary. We look forward to parliament passing this legislation and to the judicial institutions implementing it, and we stand ready to assist with the implementation and further reforms,” reads the statement released by the US Embassy to Georgia.
The bill aims to resolve the problems of protracted case hearings and judicial overload.
It also provides changes regarding judicial discipline, the mandate of the High Council of Justice (HCOJ), an independent body responsible for selection and appointment of judges and the High School of Justice.
The reform in the juridical field was launched under the Georgian Dream leadership and it was divided into several waves.
- Learn more about the reform and the view of the civil sector.
The judicial system of Georgia has the opportunity to be independent which is an integral part of any healthy democratic system, says the United States Embassy in Georgia.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili vetoed a package of bills today known as the "third wave of judicial reforms”, which were presented to him after the Georgian Parliament approved the bill on December 29, 2016.
President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio says he is well-familiar with challenges currently facing the Georgian people.
The Venice Commission has approved a package of legislative amendments prepared within the framework of the third wave of judicial reforms in Georgia.
The US has commended the ‘recent progress’ made in the fourth wave of judicial reforms in Georgia and supported the ongoing dialogue between the ruling party and the opposition on electoral reform, the US Department of State says.
About 20 opposition parties have signed an agreement on how to achieve the ‘true independence of the judiciary’ in Georgia after a win in the 2020 parliamentary elections.
Head of the European Union delegation to Georgia Carl Hartzell said the recent appointments of two new judge members to the High Council of Justice, was ‘hasty, non-transparent and non-competitive’. Ambassador Hartzell said that these appointments took place on the day after local elections they were therefore ‘at odds with Georgia’s commitments aimed at increasing the independence, accountability, quality and trust in the judiciary’, in line with the EU-Georgia Association Agreement