Justice Minister Unveils Amendments to Judiciary Act

Sofia, May 29 (BTA) - Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov on Friday
unveiled amendments to the Judiciary Act, proposed by his
Ministry, which include comprehensive integrity checks of
magistrates, direct elections for representatives of the
judiciary on the Supreme Judicial Council, greater autonomy for
prosecutors and self-government for judges. The bill has been
uploaded for public discussion on the Ministry's website.

A new unit with the Supreme Judicial Council will carry out
integrity checks and will establish whether magistrates are
affiliated with secret societies, which will be deemed
incompatible with the profession.

Through changes both to the Constitution and the Judiciary Act,
the Supreme Judicial Council will have two colleges: of judges
and of magistrates, where decisions will be voted with a simple
majority in an open ballot and abstentions won't be allowed.

The members of the Supreme Judicial Council from the quota of
the judiciary will be elected in direct elections, with
nominations be put forward at general assemblies.

The new Judiciary Act will provide for judicial self-government.
At general assemblies rank-and-file judges will nominate court
presidents and their deputies and appoint judges to court
departments. Under the proposed changes, court administrators
will serve up to two consecutive terms.

Magistrates will be subjected to more rigorous property checks
and will be probed for conflict of interest and obscure income.
Checks will be done by a special software which will detect
inconsistencies.

Of provisions regarding immunity of magistrates, the respective
college of the Supreme Judicial Council will decide whether
there is enough evidence for the prosecution to indict a
magistrate. Magistrates will be suspended from office for up to
18 months only if they have been pressed with charges.