Judges in Armenia may be allowed to challenge decisions of Supreme Judicial Council

YEREVAN, October 19. /ARKA/. Armenian Parliamentary Committee on State and Legal Affairs approved today a set of amendments to the Judicial Code, which, if approved by the parliament, would give judges the right to challenge the decisions of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

The Supreme Judicial Council is a state body that oversees Armenia’s courts.

"The amendments had been developed jointly with the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe," Justice Minister Grigor Minasyan said while presenting the amendments to the Committee.

According to the minister, thanks to these amendments, judges would have an opportunity to challenge the decisions of the Supreme Judicial Council on disciplinary responsibility and termination of their powers.

Minasyan explained that under the current Armenian legislation the judges cannot do so. He noted that issues of judges' responsibility are now decided by a group of 4 members of the Supreme Judicial Council

According to the amendments, the complaints of judges against the SJC are be considered by a panel of 6 judges. The maximum term of consideration of complaints is 2 months.

At the same time, the decisions made by the Council before the adoption of the legislative changes cannot be challenged. -0-