The work of inspector-judges appointed by the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) for a six-year term will be assessed once in two years by the Council. The procedure and assessment criteria will be set down in the regulations approved by the Council. This is provided in the draft law to optimize the mechanisms concerning the disciplinary punishment of judges and the work of the Judicial Inspectorate, which was given a first reading by Parliament, IPN reports.
Under the same bill, the condition concerning the existence of the definitive ascertaining document that is used to dismiss the judge in case of situations of incompatibility was eliminated.
Also, the Judicial Inspectorate will be able to examine on its own initiative facts that can represent disciplinary deviations. A district subdivision will be created at the Inspectorate to ensure technical, organizational and administrative assistance in the institution’s activities so as to optimize the work of inspector-judges.
The statute of limitations for holding judges disciplinarily accountable was extended from two to three years. The procedure for dismissing judges was standardized and the salary cut was removed from the list of disciplinary punishments intended for judges.
