Opposition Parties Sign Memorandum on Judicial Reform

Today, representatives of opposition parties signed a memorandum on judicial reform outside the building of the Supreme Court of Georgia.

The Memorandum outlines five key points – election of judges, strengthening the institute of Public Attorneys, an invitation to foreign judges, using foreign experience in freedom of expression cases, and reforming the High Council of Justice.

Through the memorandum, the parties agree to:

Introduce the jury institute for grave and particularly grave crimes during the first year of the reform, for all offenses involving imprisonment for the next four years;

Introduce the election of judges in the first instance before the end of 2021;

Through constitutional amendments, terminate the powers for current members of the High Council of Justice, unify the Supreme and Constitutional Courts; Repeal all acts of appointment of judges from 2017;

Appoint judges from the United States and the United Kingdom to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal for the long-term, which should be the majority of all possible panels;

Recognize the US Supreme Court decisions as case law in cases relating to freedom of speech, as well as disputes between the state and businesses or citizens (civil or administrative).