Judicial Council Complete at Moment, Won't Comment on Future Nominations

Bratislava, April 23 (TASR) - The Judicial Council is currently complete, and it won't comment on any future nominations, Judicial Council Office spokesperson Veronika Vasilkova has told TASR. "However, information is available to the Judicial Council Office that two of the current council members, who were elected to their posts by Parliament, will be heard before the parliamentary constitutional committee on Wednesday (April 24)," said Vasilkova. Coalition lawmaker Rudolf Huliak (Slovak National Party/SNS) announced on Monday (April 22) that SNS will propose ex-justice minister Stefan Harabin as a candidate for the post of Judicial Council member. This idea doesn't sit well with the opposition Christian Democrats (KDH), Progressive Slovakia (PS) and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) parties, who have pointed to Harabin's past activities in the judiciary. The Judicial Council is a constitutional body composed of 18 members, including its chair and vice-chair. One member is elected by the judges of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court. Eight members are elected from among the ranks of judges by judges of other courts. Parliament, the president and government appoint three members each. ko/df