INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JUDGES
EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF JUDGES

RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST JUDGES

The European Association of Judges at the meeting in Vilnius on 20th May 2006 unanimously adopted the following

RESOLUTION

The EAJ notes, with dismay, that in some European states there has been a tendency by members of the executive and of the legislature (a) to demand that individual judges give further public accounts for their decisions in particular cases beyond those already given in accordance with their judicial duty and (b) to demand disciplinary action against individual judges in respect of their decisions in particular cases.

The EAJ urges all concerned to note that:

a) Any attempt by the executive or legislature to enquire into the decisions of an individual judge or the reasons for decisions concerning a particular case constitutes an unwarranted interference with the judicial process and a direct threat to the independence of the judiciary;

b) Any attempt by the executive or legislature to take disciplinary action against a judge in relation to a decision in a particular case or the reasons for it is an unwarranted interference with the judicial process; a direct threat to the independence of the judiciary and contrary to the principle of judicial control of disciplinary matters concerning judges.

Vilnius, May 20th