10. October 2019 at 17:47

Constitutional Court finally gets all its judges

Court working at half-speed for eight months.

Left to right: Ladislav Duditš, Libor Duľa, Rastislav Kaššák, Miloš Maďar, Peter Straka and Martin Vernarský Left to right: Ladislav Duditš, Libor Duľa, Rastislav Kaššák, Miloš Maďar, Peter Straka and Martin Vernarský (source: TASR)
Font size: A - | A +

After nine months and five votes in parliament, Slovakia’s Constitutional Court finally has a full complement of judges.

President Zuzana Čaputová appointed six judges to the court, bringing the full number to 13, on October 10.

SkryťTurn off ads
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

Who are the 13 Constitutional Court judges?

  • Ivan Fiačan, chairman

  • Ľuboš Szigeti,vice-chairman

  • Jana Baricová

  • Ladislav Duditš

  • Libor Duľa

  • Miroslav Duriš

  • Rastislav Kaššák

  • Jana Laššáková

  • Miloš Maďar

  • Mojmír Mamojka

  • Peter Molnár

  • Peter Straka

  • Martin Vernársky

In a speech after appointing Ladislav Duditš, Libor Duľa, Rastislav Kaššák, Miloš Maďar, Peter Straka and Martin Vernársky, President Čaputová said: “You are taking up your office at a time when mistrust in judges and justice is a major theme in Slovakia and at a time when the public rightfully expects change for the better.

SkryťTurn off ads

“It is necessary for the health of society, for the functioning of democracy. I believe you will contribute to justice and trust in judiciary power.”

Political battle

The appointments bring to an end months of bitter political rancour over the election of judges to the court.

Judges are appointed to the court, which sits in Košice, through parliament with MPs agreeing on a list of candidates which is then passed to the president who selects from among them.

Building of the Constitutional Court in Košice Building of the Constitutional Court in Košice (source: TASR)

The tenure of nine out of the court’s 13 sitting judges expired in February but for months a fractious parliament was unable to agree on a list with MPs from different parties refusing to support various candidates.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription -  Sign in

Subscription provides you with:

  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk

  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)

  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you

  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

SkryťClose ad