site.btaUnion of Judges Demands More Detailed Check of Sofia City Court Performance

Union of Judges Demands More Detailed Check of Sofia City Court Performance

Sofia, April 27 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Judges Association (BJA)
voices discontent with the results of a Supreme Judicial Council
inspection of the performance of the Sofia City Court (SCC) and
a subsequent report. BJA has sent an open letter to the Supreme
Judicial Council saying that the report does not contain
categorical and clear conclusions on the responsibility of the
SCC officials nor an analysis of the circumstances established
in the course of the check.

In their opinion, SJC should specify the breaches in the court's
management and hold the persons having admitted them
responsible in order to restrict vicious practices in the
judiciary.

The check within the SCC began under pressure from judges, who
publicized controversial facts about the way of management of
the Court by SCC President Vladimira Yaneva and her deputies,
scandalous disclosures regarding the random distribution of
cases and a trade dispute involving two local subsidiaries of
French companies. The magistrates were supported by diplomats
from EU countries, who insisted that the judges demanding
reforms be heard. SJC decided that SCC would be checked by a
special commission. In the meantime, the SCC President was
suspended from office and tendered resignation, followed by her
deputies. Disciplinary proceedings were launched against Yaneva
and her deputies Bogdana Zhelyavska and Petya Kruncheva.

According to the Association, appeals against the separate
judges have not been considered and a check on a case-by-case
basis has not been carried out.