The Association of Slovak Judges (ZSS) is calling on politicians and other representatives of public authority to refrain from making statements that exceed the boundaries of permissible professional and factual criticism of court decisions, according to a statement approved by the ZSS national council on Tuesday.
The association explained that such statements undermine the authority of the courts as well as the public's trust in the judiciary, adding that they are becoming a means of inadmissible pressure on the decision-making of the courts ever more often.
The association said that it recognises and fully respects that judicial decisions can be subject to public criticism. "Such criticism is not only permissible but also welcome, as it initiates a professional dialogue capable of positively influencing the decision-making practice of the courts, but it must be strictly factual. Not only the public's trust in the judiciary and the authority of the judiciary but also the independence of the judiciary as a whole are at stake," ZSS warned.
According to the association, special demands are placed on all top public officials and high-ranking politicians in particular, as they are co-responsible for upholding the aforementioned constitutional values, which are crucial for the rule of law to function. "Especially when their behaviour sets a standard that is adopted by a significant part of the public, including participants and parties to court proceedings," the association added.
(TASR)
