Most of the sessions scheduled by the Supreme Council of Justice have been postponed

From June 2022 to December of the same year, representatives of the Georgian Court Watch attended the sessions of the Supreme Council of Justice. One of the problematic issues that emerged during this period is the high rate of postponement of sessions appointed by the Supreme Council of Justice. At the same time, in the second half of 2022, none of the meetings of the Council were held at the scheduled time.

According to the Organic Law of Georgia on General Courts, sessions of the Supreme Council of Justice of Georgia are convoked by the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Justice of Georgia as needed, but not less than once every 3 months or on his instructions - the secretary of the Supreme Council of Justice of Georgia. The meeting of the Supreme Council of Justice of Georgia can be convoked on request of 1/3 of the members of the Supreme Council of Justice of Georgia.

The Supreme Council of Justice of Georgia is authorized to consider the issue and to make a decision if more than half of the members of the Council (at least 8 members) are present at the session. Observers do not know the reasons for the postponement of the sessions of the Supreme Council of Justice.

It is possible that the high rate of postponement of sessions is related to the incomplete composition of the Supreme Council of Justice. Since after June 2021, the Supreme Council of Justice have 10 members instead of 15 members. It is possible that this is the reason why the Council of Justice is unable or delayed to mobilize the appropriate number of members (8 members).

In December 2022, it was planned to elect 5 non-judge members in the Parliament of Georgia, but the voting of candidates was postponed until the spring session.

June-December 2022:

• A total of 67 sessions were scheduled;
• 22 sessions were held;
• 45 sessions were postponed.

Council meeting delays ranges from 1 to 6 hours.

June, 2022:

• 13 meetings were scheduled, of which only 3 were held, 10 were postponed.
• All three sessions started with long delays.

July, 2022:

• 13 meetings were scheduled, of which only 4 were held, 9 were postponed.
• All four sessions started with long delays.

August, 2022:

• 5 meetings were scheduled, of which only 1 was held, 4 were postponed.
• The session opened with a long delay.

September, 2022:

• 7 meetings were scheduled, of which only 1 was held, 6 were postponed.
• The session started with a long delay.

October, 2022:

• 9 meetings were scheduled, of which 7 were held, 2 were postponed.
• All seven sessions opened with a long delay.

November, 2022:

• 6 meetings were scheduled, of which 3 were held and 3 were postponed.
• All seven sessions started with long delays, one of them opened 6 hours later than the scheduled time.

December, 2022:

• 14 meetings were scheduled, of which only 3 were held, 11 were postponed.
• All three sessions started with long delays.

The sessions of the Supreme Council of Justice have a great load in terms of the transparency and accountability of the judicial system, since it represents a body that has the function of coordinating the judicial system, promoting quality and effective justice. Accordingly, the Supreme Council of Justice will not be able to fulfill this function if it fails to meet even the minimum standard required to hold the appointed session.

---

The materials distributed by courtwatch.ge and published on the website are the property of "Georgian Court Watch", when using them, "Georgian Court Watch" should be indicated as the source.