The HCJ increased the number of the HACC judges. What will happen with the competition?

Following the HCJ’s decision, the High Anti-Corruption Court will have a total of 42 judges in the first instance court and 21 judges in the appellate court, adding 24 positions compared to the previous arrangement.

The next step involves the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) organizing a competition for these new judge positions. However, there is a challenge: the mandate of the Public Council of International Experts (PCIE), which assists the HQCJ in evaluating candidates’ integrity and professional qualifications for the HACC, is set to expire in November next year, so the competition is unlikely to be completed in time.

So, what is the solution?

The most straightforward and sensible approach would be to extend the mandate of the PCIE. This ensures that the selection of judges for the same court continues to follow the same rigorous procedure.

At the same time, we face the equally important tasks of renewing the Supreme Court and establishing the High Administrative Court. For these competitions, it’s equally vital to engage international experts to ensure transparency and fairness in the selection process.