site.btaUPDATED Justice Ministry Officially Launches Public Consultation on New Judicial System Act

The Justice Ministry Tuesday officially launched public consultation on a new Judicial System Act, the ministry said in a press release.

At a joint event, the Justice Ministry and the Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives (BILI) are organizing a debate on the texts starting at 11:00 am Tuesday at the Grand Hotel Sofia. The main proposed structural and functional reforms in the judicial system will be the focus of the debate. Invited to participate are representatives of the legislative, executive and judiciary, the civil sector, academia and the media. In continuation of the constitutional amendments, which introduce significant changes in the management and functioning of the judicial system, the new Judicial System Act has major implications for judicial authorities and magistrates and the whole society, the Justice Ministry said. 

The highlights of the public consultation will be proposed structural reforms, including the establishment of a Supreme Judicial Council and a Supreme Prosecutorial Council, and the place of the prosecution in relation to the court, among others. Special attention will be paid to functional reforms - personnel policy and control activities in the judiciary, and the functions of the prosecution in the criminal trial. 

The main provisions of the new Judicial System Act are to strengthen the role and self-governance of courts, to introduce a requirement for party neutrality for members of the highest judicial authorities, to reduce the powers of the Prosecutor General to an administrative head of the Supreme Prosecution Office, to regulate clear and transparent procedures for competitions, career development and secondment of magistrates.

The new Act implements specific recommendations from the statements of the Venice Commission and the EC Report on the Rule of Law, the ministry said.

The bill has been published for public consultation. The deadline for submitting comments, opinions, and recommendations is 20 days.