The Parliament considered with the second reading with 81 votes against 16 the draft law on change to the Organic Law On General Courts. The MPs considered with the second reading the drafts: “On Disciplinary Responsibility and Disciplinary Litigation of General Court Judges”, “On change to the Law On Supreme School of Justice” and “On change to the Criminal Code of Practice”.

The draft On Disciplinary Responsibility and Disciplinary Litigation of General Court Judges prescribes the rules of formation of the board, specifies the exceptive circumstances for membership of the board, regulates the rule and scopes of remuneration of the members of the disciplinary board by the Parliament and the rule of official promulgation of the decisions of the disciplinary board and the chamber. The draft on change to the Law On Supreme School of Justice prescribes the new regulations of election of the Chair of the Independent Board of the Supreme School of Justice and composition of the independent board.
According to the changes to the Criminal Code of Practice, photo, video, audio recording of litigation in the Court Hall shall be implemented under the Organic Law on General Courts.
According to the minority, the draft on Disciplinary Responsibility and Disciplinary Litigation of General Court Judges is aimed to allow the new Government to implement institutional control on judiciary. In their opinion, adoption of the draft will entail problems for adoption of the Association Agreement on Vilnius Summit.
The Parliament considered with the first reading with 86 votes against 2 the initiative of Vakhtang Khmaladze, the draft Rules of Procedure. The changes will bring the Rules of Procedure in compliance with the changes to the Organic Law on General Courts.
The Speaker of the Parliament, David Usupashvili stated that 99% of the recommendations by the Venice Commission are considered in the drafts. He addressed the minority to submit the text of the opinion by the Venice Commission, providing 2/3 quorum to avoid misunderstanding. He stated that the process on elaboration of the draft started in December and took so long to consider the recommendations by the Venice Commission. As he evaluated, “the introduced drafts provide reforming of inaccurate and distorted system”, as a result of which the judges will be liberated from political dictatorship. According to him, whatever the draft provided, the President would not support the changes any way. “We are responsible for society, judges and adoption of this draft will liberate court from political pressure but it shall be noted that whatever this draft provided, your leader would not admit it is good”, - he noted. “We have many interesting processes ahead and it would be better for you to participate” – he addressed the minority.
The Parliament considered with the second reading with 83 votes and unanimously adopted the draft on change to the law on Higher Education, envisaging the circle of the persons, entitled to study in higher institution without the national exams.
The MPs considered with the first reading and adopted with 80 votes the draft on change to the Criminal Code of Practice. The minority did not participate in ballot, being against adoption of this draft.
The next plenary will be held tomorrow, on April 5 at 13h00.