Women in the Judiciary

The entry of women into spaces from which they have historically been sidelined means the restoration of equality. It means the perception of justice as a full-fledged representative of the society, whose members are affected by it on a daily basis, it means the inspiration for the next generation of girls that they can have their own say in the development of such a major institution as the court.

Who can become the chairman of the court in the first and second instance?

• The chairperson and deputy chairperson of the court of Appeals shall be appointed by the High Council of Justice of Georgia for a term of 5 years by reasoned decision.¹
• The chairperson of the district (city) court shall be appointed by the High Council of Justice of Georgia for a term of 5 years by a reasoned decision.²

Appointment of chairmen of Chambers and collegiums of the court

• The High Council of Justice of Georgia shall appoint the chairpersons of the chambers and investigative collegium of the court of Appeals for the term of 5 years from the composition of the respective chambers and collegium.³
• The chairman of the judicial collegium shall be appointed by the High Council of Justice of Georgia for a term of 5 years from the composition of this Collegium. A judge appointed for a term of 3 years may not be appointed as the chairman of the judicial board, except when they have at least 5 years of experience as a judge.⁴

How many women are or have been in the position of chairman in court?

(Meaning the chairman of the court, collegium, or chamber)

It is interesting to observe the statistical data, how many women are in court, as well as on the position of chairmen of Chambers and collegiums in common courts, and what is their ratio to male chairmen.

In 2015-2021, the number of persons appointed to the position of chairmen of a district (city) and appellate courts, as well as chairman of Chambers and collegiums, including acting chairmen, reaches 56 and there are only 5 women.

2015-2021 - chairmen/acting officers of courts, chambers, and collegiums:

1. Valeri Tsertsvadze
2. Mikheil Chinchaladze
3. Lasha Kalandadze
4. Merab Gabinashvili
5. Irakli Shengelia
6. Levan Tevzadze
7. Dimitri Gvritishvili
8. Vasil Mshvenieradze
9. Malkhaz Guruli
10. Amiran Dzabunidze
11. Gocha Abuseridze
12. Malkhaz Okropirashvili
13. Mamuka Akhvlediani
14. Giorgi Mikautadze
15. Nikoloz Marsagishvili
16. Sergo Metopishvili
17. Giorgi Ebanoidze
18. Bidzina Sturua
19. Badri Shonia
20. Shota Getsadze
21. Eka Areshidze
22. Temur Gogokhia
23. Revaz nadaraia
24. Teimuraz Svanidze
25. Guram Gotsiridze
26. Gocha Jeiranashvili
27. Gia Beraia
28. Ararat Esoyan
29. Malkhaz Enukidze
30. David Mamiseishvili
31. Tea Leonidze
32. Giorgi Gratiashvili
33. Shalva Kakauridze
34. David Narimanishvili
35. Teimuraz Sikharulidze
36. Gela Kiria
37. Shota Nikuradze
38. Natruli Akobia
39. Vladimer Khuchua
40. Mamuka Tsiklauri
41. Marine Tsertsvadze
42. David Akhalbedashvili
43. Mamia Pkhakadze
44. Levan Meshveliani
45. Ivane Kipiani
46. Levan Nutsubidze
47. Irakli Bondarenko
48. Valerian Bugianishvili
49. Giorgi Bukhrashvili
50. David Gelashvili
51. Leri Tedoradze
52. Roin Kakhidze
53. Leila Gurguchiani
54. Khvicha Kikilashili
55. Gocha Putkaradze
56. Jumber Bezhanidze 

From the document provided by the High Council of justice, we know that in the period from 2015 to 2021, a total of 5 women were appointed as chairmen in different courts, but 3 of them were assigned to fulfill the powers of the chair and only 2 were appointed directly as chairmen. 

More details about the female chairmen listed above

1. Since December 2015, Leila Gurguchiani has been assigned to exercise the authority of the chairperson of the Khelvachauri District Court since December 8 and has not been appointed directly as the chairperson.
2. Marine Tsertsvadze was assigned from January 20, 2017 to perform the duties of the chairperson of the Telavi District Court. She was not appointed chairman.
3. From February 2016, 23, Eka Areshidze was assigned to exercise the authority of the chairman of the criminal cases collegium of the Tbilisi City Court.
4. Natruli Akobia has been appointed as the chairperson of Zugdidi District Court since October 2012, 25. On December 2012, 21, the decision on the appointment of N. Akobia as the chairperson of the Zugdidi District Court was declared invalid and on the same day was imposed to fulfill the authority of the chairperson of the United Zugdidi District Court. From February 2016, 19 N. Akobia is still obliged to exercise the authority of the chairperson of the Zugdidi District Court, and this decision is declared invalid on June 2017, 5 and on the same day, Natruli Akobia is appointed as the chairperson of the Zugdidi District Court. It is also noteworthy that after the appointment in 2017 on June 5, N. Akobia has exhausted the 5-year term of the chairman's authority provided for by law.
5. From February 2016, 15, Tea Leonidze was assigned the authority of the chairman of the Bolnisi District Court. This decision was declared invalid in 2017 on June 5 and on the same day she was appointed chairman of the Bolnisi District Court. It should be noted that tea Leonidze was appointed as a judge of the criminal cases Chamber of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals by the decision of June 2021, 18.

As a percentage, this data⁵ appears as such:

Court chairmen from 2015 to 20.07.2022

Male chairmen-91%

Female chairmen-9%

What happened before 2015?

Prior to 2015, out of 31 court chairmen/acting officials, 13 are women, but thirteen were assigned to exercise the powers of the chairperson and none of them was appointed directly as the chairperson.

According to the information found on the official website of the High Council of justice, the list of chairs and chairpersons appointed before 2015:

1. Mevlud Khatashvili
2. Giorgi Darakhvelidze
3. Besik Bugianishvili
4. Giorgi Arevadze
5. David Dvali
6. Roman Estate
7. Matiko Khurtsidze
8. Giorgi Londaridze
9. Meri Maisuradze
10. Robert Chinkorashvili
11. Anna Chogovadze
12. Tsitsino Mosidze
13. Shalva Mchedlishvili
14. Lasha Kochiachvili
15. Tea Dzimistarashvili
16. Lazare Dzirkvelishvili
17. Shakro Abuseridze
18. Jemal Kiknadze
19. Tsira Maisuradze
20. Nana Chalatashvili
21. Irakli Gigineishvili
22. Maia Shoshiashvili
23. Ioseb Baghaturia
24. Anna Ghelekva
25. Violeta Porchkhidze
26. David kekenadze
27. Soso Gurtskaia
28. Indira Mashaneishvili
29. Marina Kiknadze
30. Arsen Kalatozishvili
31. Nana Jankhoteli

These data statistically look like this:

Court chairmen from 2007 to 2015

Male chairmen 58%

Female chairmen 42%

Overall data of chairpersons listed above (2007-present):⁶

• Total-87 chair
• Of these-18 female chairs
• 69 male chair

Court chairmen 2007-2022

Male chairmen 79%

Female chairmen 21%

Court chairmen from 2007 to 2015

Male chairmen 18

Female chairmen 13

Court chairs since 2015

Male chairmen 51

Female chairmen 5

Female chairmen

Acting chairman 89%

Chair 11%

The presented statistical data show that since 2015, the appointment rate of female chairmen/chairpersons has substantially decreased, although there has never been a satisfactory rate and disproportion has been noticeable before.

The statistics analyzed in the article reflect a critically unequal situation between men and women, especially considering that, as we read on the website of the Tbilisi City Court, "women represent the majority in judicial positions in the common courts of Georgia.“

Why are women in high positions in the judiciary a minority when they represent the majority of judges?

The civilized world agreed that at all stages of decision-making, it is possible to achieve peace and democracy only with the equal participation of women and men. The current situation is the message of the judicial authorities to women that wide opportunities for career success in the field of management of the Georgian judicial system are available only to men. 

Additional information about women chairmen who are not appointed by the High Council of justice, but are acting as chairmen on the basis of law:

In case of temporary absence of the chairperson of the court board, their duties are performed by one of the judges of the court on the instruction of the chairperson of the court, and in the absence of the assignment of the chairperson of the court-by the judge who has more experience of working as a judge.⁷

The Georgian Court Watch tried to find out what is the situation in the courts where the High Council of Justice has not officially appointed a chairman. The decision of the High Council of Justice regarding the chairperson of several courts mentioned below is not searchable, therefore we assume that they exercise this authority automatically, on the basis of the law, as the most experienced judges.

As far as we know, from 17.08.2021 the chairman of the Akhaltsikhe District Court is Anait Oganesyan.

Since the beginning of 2021, Nana Chalatashvili has been acting as chairman at gurjaani District Court.

In Telavi District Court, Marine Tsertsvadze's term as chairman expired on 20.06.2022, as we were informed verbally, the acting chairman of the court is marine Tsertsvadze.

In Ozurgeti District Court, we were told verbally that Ia Baramidze is the acting chairman of the court. Since when Ia Baramidze exercises the authority of the chairman is unknown. In this case, another problem was identified by the Court Watch, which we will devote to a separate article.

Footnote

1. Article 23, paragraph 6 of the Organic Law of Georgia" on common courts".
2. The first paragraph of Article 32 of the Organic Law of Georgia" on common courts".
3. Article 23, paragraph 5 of the Organic Law of Georgia“ on common courts".
4. Article 30, Part 4 of the Organic Law of Georgia" on common courts".
5. The data is based on the official document issued by the High Council of justice and the information found on the official page of Justice.
6. Statistical information includes 87 cases of chairmen examined by the Georgian Court Watch, based on the data on the website of the Council of Justice and official responses received from the council.
7. Article 33, Part 2 of the organic law" on common courts".

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