Trnava Regional Court judge Dušan Čimo has become the ninth representative of judges on the Judicial Council. Čimo has thus returned to the Judicial Council after being dismissed by Smer-SD in September of this year before the Supreme Court chair and Judicial Council chair elections.
Three other judges were running for the post, among them also former Supreme Court and Judicial Council chair Štefan Harabin. One of the 18 seats on the Judicial Council was vacated in the wake of the Constitutional amendment that has come into effect since 1st September and separated the chair posts of the Supreme Court from that of the Judicial Council. Hence, judges have nine representatives on the Council; while the Parliament, Government and President each have three. Justice Minister Tomas Borec stated that he respects the result of the election, calling it good news for the Slovak judiciary. The Constitutional amendment was praised also by Christian Democratic Movement chairman Jan Figeľ. He believes the changes kick started the process of ‘deHarabinisation’ of the judiciary – the power branch that he finds to be most problematic and untrustworthy.
