What issues did the High Council of Justice discuss in January

Main problems

• The High Council of Justice of Georgia made all decisions unanimously, dissenting opinion/question was not present;
• The High Council of Justice did not publish information about the postponement of the session on the website in advance, within a reasonable time;
• Information about the appointment of all meetings was published in violation of the organic law - only 1 working day before, instead of at least 3 working days.

January 10, 2023

In January 2023, the council appointed its first meeting on January 9, which was postponed and held on January 10. In total, 30 minutes were devoted to discussing the issues at the session. 

Agenda:
1. The draft law - "on amendments to the law of Georgia on legal entity of Public Law";
2. Letter of the chairman of the Department of common courts;
3. Amendments to some normative acts of the High Council of Justice of Georgia;
4. On the determination of the composition of Chambers/collegiums in some district (city)/appellate courts.

Key issues/solutions discussed at the session:

• The High Council of Justice unanimously adopted the decision and gave consent to the Department of common courts to approve the list of employees and official

salaries of the same department in the form attached.

No other decision was taken at the session.

January 16, 2023

Initially, the session was scheduled for January 12, but (after postponing 2 times) it was held on January 16, to which approximately 15 minutes were devoted to discussing the issues at the session.

Agenda:
1. Letter of the chairman of the Department of common courts;
2. The draft law - "on amendments to the law of Georgia on legal entity of Public Law";
3. Draft decree - "on approval of the rule of internship and training practice in the High Council of Justice of Georgia and common courts "on amendments to the decision of the High Council of Justice of Georgia, September 2017, 18, 1/251";
4. Letters of judges of Kutaisi City Court;
5. On amendments to some normative acts;
6. On determining the composition of Chambers/collegiums in some district (city)/appellate courts;
7. Organizational issues.

Key issues/solutions discussed at the session:

• The letter of the Department of common courts referred to the rental of the Hall (private property) in Khulo municipality, on which the members of the High Council of justice noted that additional examination and discussion were needed;
• The issue of increasing the amount of the supplement for judges of the common courts of Georgia was discussed. After the amendments to the decree of the High Council of Justice of Georgia on January 2020, 23, HCOJ 1/6, the supplement was defined as follows:

Chairman of the court of Appeals - 4100 gel;

Deputy chairman of the court of Appeals - 4025 gel;
 
Chairman of the Chamber of Appeals Court (collegium) - 3885 gel;

Judge of the Court of Appeals - 3745 gel;

Chairman of Tbilisi City Court - 4310 gel;

Chairman of Tbilisi City Court collegiums - 4170 gel;

Judge of Tbilisi City Court - 4030 gel;

Chairman of Batumi City Court - 4310 gel;

Judge of Batumi City Court, Magistrate Judge - 4030 gel;

Chairman of Kutaisi civil court - 4310 gel;

Judge of Kutaisi City Court, Magistrate Judge - 4030 gel;

Chairman of other districts (city) court - 3540 gel;

Judge of other districts (City) Court, Magistrate Judge -3260 gel.

• The issue concerning the determination of the composition of Chambers/collegiums in some district (city)/appellate courts was removed from the agenda;
• Finally, different topics were discussed, namely: approval of the structure of Tbilisi and Kutaisi courts of Appeal, District (City) Courts, staff list and official salaries of employees; draft decree on the remuneration of an independent inspector and a non-judge member; and termination of judicial authority for Judge Jemal Kopaliani from January 2023, 11 due to retirement age.

January 20, 2023

Initially, the session was scheduled for January 17, but after a 2-fold postponement, the session was held on January 20, which started with a delay of 2 hours and 18 minutes, In total, 15 minutes were devoted to the discussion of all issues.

The meeting was not attended by the chairman of the High Council of justice and the Supreme Court, Nino Kadagidze, and the judge of the Supreme Court, Ketevan Tsintsadze.


Agenda:
1. Letter of the chairman of the Department of common courts;
2. Letters of judges of Kutaisi City Court;
3. On amendments to some normative acts;
4. On determining the composition of Chambers/collegiums in some district (city)/appellate courts;
5. Organizational issues.


Key issues/solutions discussed at the session:

• The letter of the chairman of the Department of common courts referred to the issue of leasing space to the Khulo Magistrate Court, which was agreed upon by all the members attending the session.
• The letter of the judges of the Kutaisi city court concerned the increase of the amount allocated for the rent of the apartment. This issue was transferred to the Department of common courts for consideration/study.
• The issue of amending some normative acts concerned the definition of narrow specialization in the first and second instances. The members of the council did not discuss this issue in detail and only mentioned the amendments.
• The fourth issue, about determining the composition of Chambers/collegiums in some district (city)/appellate courts, was removed from the agenda; the reason was not named.
• Fifth-organizational issues were removed from the agenda, just like in the previous case the reason was not named.

January 25, 2023

Initially, the session was scheduled for January 24, but was postponed and finally held on January 25. It took 13 minutes to discuss all issues during the late session.

The meeting was not attended by the chairman of the High Council of justice and the Supreme Court, Nino Kadagidze, and the judge of the Supreme Court, Ketevan Tsintsadze.

Agenda:
1. Judge R. Kakhidze's letter;
2. About the work trip of some judges;
3. On amendments to some normative acts;
4. On determining the composition of Chambers/collegiums in some district (city)/appellate courts;
5. Organizational issues.


Key issues/solutions discussed at the session:

• Judge Roin Kakhidze requested to increase the amount allocated for housing. The council members satisfied the judge's request and applied to the Department of common courts to resolve organizational issues.
• Some of the judges' work trips were related to Kutaisi City Court Judge Ketevan tkhelidze's business trip to Tsageri District Court. On December 20, 2022, until December 31 of the same year, Ketevan Tkhelidze was sent to Tsageri District Court, but this time, 2023, until February 1, the term of his work trip to the same court was increased. The decision of the High Council of justice reads that the judge, along with his / her activities in the Tsageri District Court, will exercise the authority of the judge in the Kutaisi City Court.
• The third and fourth issues were removed from the agenda.
• The High Council of Justice has decided to conduct a judicial qualification examination. Registration of candidates for admission to the judicial qualification exam will continue from February 20, 2023, to March 5. The first stage of the judicial qualification exam will be held in 2023 on March 11, and the second - on March 18.

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