site.btaJustice Ministry Finds Disparate Practice in Random Case Allocation, Alerts Supreme Judicial Council

December 7 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Justice Ministry found that the judicial authorities have adopted a disparate practice in the random allocation of cases and case files and in some cases the procedures go beyond the regulatory framework.

In this connection, caretaker Justice Minister Ivan Demerdjiev has alerted the Supreme Judicial Council, the presidents of the two supreme courts, the Prosecutor General and the presidents of the appellate courts, the Appellate Criminal Court, the Sofia City Court and the Sofia Regional Court, insisting on the need of a uniform practice complying with the requirements of the law, Demerdjiev's Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.

The findings are based on responses to an August 20, 2021 request for information from the Ministry addressed to the courts and prosecution offices.

Demerdjiev noted that the prosecution service has ignored both invitations to submit the internal rules on random allocation of cases and case files which have been adopted and are in force at this point of time.

The Justice Minister emphasized that account should be taken of the dire consequences of random allocation deviating from the regulatory procedure: a decision rendered by a court panel that has been formed in violation of random allocation rules may even be nullified on appeal on these grounds.

Demerdjiev asks his addressees to specify the information system used for the random allocation of cases and case files at the court and prosecution office concerned and that steps be taken for the proper application of this principle.