GD Says Accelerated Discussion of List of Judges Not on Agenda

Ruling party Georgian Dream (GD) says that the controversial list of judges offered by the High Council of Justice (HCOJ) in late December will not be discussed in a rushed manner.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, Chairperson of the Georgian Dream faction, stated discussions surrounding the issue will take place in spring.

He noted that Parliament cannot withdraw the list of 10 lifetime judges of the Supreme Court of Georgia, adding it is the function of the HCOJ, not the parliament.

Mdinaradze also dismissed the rumors that MP Eka Beselia stepped down from her position as chairperson of the Parliament's Legislative Affairs Committee because of the list of the judges.

He added that GD is not lobbying the list of candidate judges.

“It is incorrect to discuss this 10-man list as a whole. The decisions about the judges should be made individually and each candidate needs individual discussion,” he noted.

Eight HCOJ members supported 10 judges for the Supreme Court of Georgia without notifying non-judge members of the council.

Non-judge members Anna Dolidze and Nazi Janezashvili called the list “shameful”, adding the presented candidates did not have a good reputation due to “biased judiciary” as they had been working under the previous government.

The Coalition for Independent and Transparent Judiciary, composed of around 40 NGOs, released a statement calling on Parliament to suspend consideration of the Supreme Court candidates.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the legislative body will discuss the list during the spring session.

He explained that the postponement is to ensure the staffing of the Supreme Court with highly qualified personnel.

By Thea Morrison

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Parliament Postpones Consideration of Supreme Court Candidates until Spring