On 25 February 2016 the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Disciplinary Committee of Judges of Common Courts of Georgia, organised a roundtable discussion entitled “Judicial disciplinary offences – proposed list and definitions”.

The activity was carried out with the aim of fostering discussions on the need for further reform of the disciplinary proceedings in Georgia and was particularly focused on the proposed list of disciplinary offences which should be included into the legislative package of the next wave of the judicial reform. 

Ms Nino Gvenetadze, the Chairperson of the Supreme Court, Mr Cristian Urse, the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia and Mr Giorgi Tkavadze, the Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee opened the roundtable. The speakers highlighted the importance of the topic of the roundtable discussion for further strengthening of the judicial accountability in Georgia. Mr Cristian Urse in his welcome address referred to the Opinion No 3 of the Consultative Council of European Judges which calls upon the Council of Europe member states to define, as far as possible in specific terms, the failings that may give rise to disciplinary sanctions.

Mr Kakha Tsikarishvili, former member of the Disciplinary Committee, and Ms Ketevan Bekauri, current member of the Disciplinary Committee, presented the proposed list of judicial disciplinary offences to the participants of the roundtable. The Council of Europe expert, Mr Gerhard Reissner, member and former president of the Consultative Council of European Judges of the Council of Europe, provided an assessment of the proposed list and its compliance with European standards and best practices of the Council of Europe member states and shared his recommendations.

Judges, members of the High Council of Justice, Presidential Advisor on Human Rights and Justice, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Parliament and Public Defender’s Office, members of Georgian Bar Association and representatives of civil society organisations attended the roundtable and contributed to the discussions. The participants of the roundtable discussion agreed on further need to reform the judicial disciplinary system in Georgia bringing it in line with Council of Europe standards and best practices of its member states.

The roundtable was organised in the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Strengthening the Independence and Efficiency of the Justice System in Georgia” funded by the Kingdom of Denmark.”