Legal Issues Committee Rejects Bill on Suspension of Life Tenure of Judges

The Legal Issues Committee did not support the bill presented by majority MP Eka Beselia and signed by eight other lawmakers on the suspension of the appointment of judges for life tenure.

During the discussions, Beselia stressed that society is standing on one side, and the High Council of Justice (HCOJ), which appoints judges, on the other.

“Our next step will be the collection of signatures and making constitutional amendments", Beselia said.

In early February, Beselia, together with her eight co-thinkers within the party, submitted a legislative initiative to Parliament asking for the suspension of the appointment of judges for life tenure in the first and second instances of courts.

The initiative is based on the article of the transitional provisions of the Constitution, according to which the Supreme Council of Justice may not use the appointment of judges for life tenure until 31 December 2024, but use the probationary term instead.

The draft law was signed by Georgian Dream members Gedevan Popkhadze, Sasha Erkvania, Zviad Kvachantiradze, Koba Narchemashvili, Levan Koberidze, Davit Chichnadze, Otar Chrdileli, Eka Beselia, and Levan Gogichaishvili.

The issue became controversial after the High Council of Justice nominated 10 candidate judges for the Supreme Court of Georgia for life tenure. The list was rejected by the non-judge members of the HCOJ, NGOs and some members of the majority, who claimed that the presented judges were working during the previous government too and had the reputation of being “biased and corrupt”.

By Thea Morrison

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