MPs pass Judge Status Bill and forward legislation to Senate
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MPs have approved the Judge Status Bill and sent the legislation to the Senate.
The draft law, discussed by MPs, would reduce the minimum age for judges and lay assessors from 35 to 30. The Judge Status Bill is intended to enshrine the judiciary’s legal status in a separate law and further bolster the independence of the judicial branch.
According to the bill, a new appointment system would introduce an initial five-year term for judges, after which they would receive a permanent, tenured appointment. The legislation also aims to tighten the qualification standards for judges, court presidents and vice presidents, while adding stronger social protection guarantees for judges and their families.
As the bill was prepared for its second reading, the main principles governing judicial activity were reorganized. In particular, the requirement that judges remain completely free of political views and outside influence when making decisions is being set out as a separate foundational principle. Safeguards for judicial independence have also been systematically incorporated into the relevant part of the text.
The bill also defines more clearly the legal status and working guarantees of retired judges. Under the proposed rules, retired judges would receive official identification, be able to join judicial community bodies voluntarily with consent, and have the right to work as professional mediators.
Importantly, the bill guarantees them lifetime immunity for judicial opinions and rulings issued while they were serving on the bench.
At the same time, the legislation revises the specific conduct that may lead to disciplinary liability for serving judges. It explicitly sets out the legal meaning of a “gross violation of legality.” It also creates a clear procedure requiring a higher court to formally confirm such a violation and record it in a special ruling.
During the debate, MPs said that codifying the judiciary’s status in a standalone law is a key step toward protecting judicial independence and significantly strengthening the legal and social safeguards for judges. By the end of the session, the bill had been passed by the lower house and sent to the Senate.
The lower house first considered and approved the bill in its first reading on September 8, which officially established the basis for introducing the institution of “retired judges” and giving them the right to engage in professional mediation.