The Georgian Court Watch held a presentation of the report on the Rustavi City Court

10.02.2023

On February 10, the Georgian Court Watch held a presentation of the report of the Rustavi City Court in Rustavi. The report of the Georgian Court Watch deals with such issues as the role of the chairman, remuneration of employees, qualification requirements, and number. Natia Kokiashvili, chairman of the Rustavi branch of the Georgian Young Lawyers ' Association, was one of the speakers at the presentation of the report.

While working on the report, it was revealed that the chairman of Rustavi city court, within the scope of his duties imposed on the basis of the organic law "on common courts", generalizes the information about the management of the flow of cases, which he provides to the High Council of Justice. The letters sent by the chairman of the Rustavi City Court to the High Council of Justice show that in 2019-2021, the chairman of the Rustavi City Court repeatedly appealed to the secretary of the High Council of Justice to take various organizational measures to eliminate the problem of overcrowding of cases in the Rustavi City Court. However, the High Council of Justice has not discussed at the open session the management of the flow of cases submitted by the chairman of the reports.

The report of the Georgian Court Watch includes recommendations to the High Council of Justice of Georgia and the Parliament of Georgia.

High Council of Justice:

  • The remuneration of labor: The remuneration of employees: of Rustavi City Court and Tbilisi City Court shall be equalized.
  • Court official: to clarify the qualification requirements of court officials.
  • Staff and staff structure of the court: to substantiate the decision on changes in the staff and staff structure of the court.
  • Annual reports: on the basis of the first paragraph "E" of Article 25 of the organic law on common courts of Georgia, the High Council of Justice shall hear the annual report of the chairman of the court at the session.

The Parliament of Georgia:

  • The organic law on the common courts of Georgia shall establish the obligation of the High Council of Justice to announce the competition for selection of judges (in District (City) and appellate courts) in advance, prior to the occurrence of the respective vacant place.

The report was published with funding from the European Foundation, within the framework of a grant from the Danish international development agency. The authors are responsible for its content. The report does not express the official positions of the European Foundation and the Danish Agency for International Development.