Justice Minister Tomáš Borec has asked Slovakia's ombudswoman, Jana Dubovcová, to decide with him on possible disciplinary proceedings against Štefan Harabin, the president of Slovakia’s Supreme Court and head of the Judicial Council, based on a letter Harabin sent to the president of the Constitutional Court, Ivetta Macejková.
The Sme daily reported on Wednesday, January 16, that in his letter Harabin complained about the assignment of a case involving his friend Ján Krampl to Justice Sergej Kohut for judgement. Macejková responded by stating – according to Sme – that Harabin had no right to criticise the decision, and sent his letter to Borec and to members of the Judicial Council.
The ombudsman in Slovakia has the right to file disciplinary complaints against judges, but neither Dubovcová nor her predecessor Pavel Kandráč has exercised the right to date. However, Dubovcová promised to do so back in November 2012 after she had been inaugurated and specified circumstances under which she would do so.
Source: Sme
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
