Parliament approves Supreme Court judges despite local, int'l calls to pause process
The Georgian parliament appointed six judges earlier this year as well, on July 12, 2021, despite calls from the opposition, NGOs and the international community to pause the process in compliance with the EU-mediated agreement which resolved the six months of political crisis after the country’s October 2020 parliamentary elections. Photo: Georgian parliament press office.
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The Georgian parliament has appointed four judges to the country’s Supreme Court earlier today despite calls from local NGOs and the international community to suspend the process before the implementation of fundamental judicial reforms.
Prior to the parliament’s decision, the Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee reviewed four candidates selected by the High Council of Justice on November 25-26 and approved them for positions on the country’s Supreme Court.
The elected lifelong judges are:
- Genadi Makaridze - 81 in favour, 5 against
- Tamar Okropiridze - 81 in favour, 5 against
- Nino Sandodze - 80 in favour, 5 against
- Tea Dzimistarashvili - 81 in favour, 5 against
The EU representation to Georgia refused to attend the hearings of candidates for Georgian Supreme Court judge on November 25 as it has been calling on the Georgian government to carry out reforms before the appointment of judges, however, the state legislature did not suspend the process.
The United States Embassy to Georgia also raised concern over the judicial appointments being proceeded without the participation of non-judge members of the High Council of Justice, noting that the Georgian people ‘are supposed to have a voice in the selection of these influential and important judges’ through non-judge members.
The Georgian parliament appointed six judges earlier this year as well, on July 12, 2021, despite calls from the opposition, NGOs and the international community to pause the process in compliance with the EU-mediated agreement which resolved the six months of political crisis after the country’s October 2020 parliamentary elections.
However, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party later in July withdrew from the agreement stating that they have already taken ‘major steps’ to reform the country’s judiciary and pledged the ‘successful completion’ of the process.
The United States Embassy to Georgia has expressed its disappointment that the Georgian parliament is ‘moving forward with Supreme Court appointments’ before the completion of an independent assessment of the judicial reform.
The EU representation to Georgia has refused to attend the hearings of candidates for Georgian Supreme Court judge in the state legislature, as the European Union has been calling on Georgia for several months to carry out a fundamental judiciary reform first.
Over twenty judges have distanced themselves from criticism of EU and US concern over the appointment of two judge members of the High Council of Justice. Following the assessments of the EU and US dignitaries, President Salome Zurabishvili has also stated that the election of two new members ‘in this form and at this time is an incomprehensible step’. The Administrative Committee of the Conference of Judges disagrees.
The United States Embassy to Georgia has stated that the selection of two new members to the High Council of Justice on October 31 was ‘neither competitive nor transparent’. It further noted that the US ‘has long sought to build the capacity of qualified and dedicated judges while calling for reforms that would allow for accountability for judges who undermine the legitimacy of the judicial system’.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) has released a statement condemning the recent appointment of four judges to the country’s Supreme Court despite calls to pause the process ‘before addressing the existing shortcomings.'
The Georgian parliament approved new rules for the election of the head of the country’s Central Election Commission (CEC) and its members earlier today despite the calls of NGOs not to support the ‘simplified procedures.’
The US Embassy to Georgia has stated that the Georgian parliament made a 'rushed decision' in approving new rules for electing the Central Election Commission (CEC) head and members. The embassy said that by supporting the amendments, the ruling Georgian Dream party took an 'unnecessary step away' from its commitment to strengthening Georgia's electoral system.
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) rapporteurs Titus Corlatean (Romania, SOC) and Claude Kern (France, ALDE) have expressed their concern over the 'extremely polarised' political climate in Georgia following their visit to the country.
Four Georgian-based non-governmental organisations that reviewed the implementation of the European Union-mediated April 19 agreement between the Georgian government and opposition, which put an end to six months of political tension over the country’s October 2020 parliamentary elections, say ambitious electoral reform was partly carried out in the country while pointing out that the fulfilment of judicial reforms almost failed.
The United States Embassy to Georgia on Wednesday made a recommendation to the Georgian Parliament to allow lifetime appointments for the country’s Supreme Court judges to retain “qualified and experienced” personnel, as part of its general recommendations on the judicial reform to the state legislature.