The draft law on the status of judges has been finalized and sent to the Senate

The draft law on the status of judges has been finalized and sent to the Senate

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has completed the finalization of the draft law "On the Status of Judges," approved it, and forwarded it to the Senate. The document provides for a new procedure for appointing judges, and also clarifies the rules regarding their independence, status, and disciplinary liability.

One of the main changes is related to the term of office. It is proposed to appoint judges for an initial term of five years, and subsequently for an indefinite period.

During the preparation of the draft for the second reading, deputies also revised the rules on the basic principles of judges' activities. In particular, it is separately established that when making decisions, a judge must be free from political views and any other external influence.

The provisions on the status of a retired judge, which is new to the legislation, have also been clarified. It is proposed to issue certificates to such judges, allow them, with their consent, to participate in the work of the bodies of the judicial community, and engage in professional mediation activities. In addition, it is planned to preserve their guarantees of immunity regarding opinions and decisions made during their tenure as a judge and related to the administration of justice.

The grounds for disciplinary liability have also been specified. In particular, the concept of "gross violation of legality" has been defined. Such a fact must be established by a higher court and reflected in a corresponding special ruling.

Following the finalization, the deputies adopted the bill and sent it to the Senate for consideration.

Additionally, it has been proposed in Uzbekistan to lower the minimum age for candidates for judges and people's assessors from 35 to 30 years.