Bulgarian Judges Oppose Proposed Changes to the Judicial System Act

The Bulgarian Judges Association (BJA) believes that the draft law on the amenments to the Judicial System Act openly aims to prevent judges from exercising their right to free association, a BJA statement says on 6 July.

The new draft law bans them from participating in the management bodies of professional associations with other members of the judiciary such as the Union of Jurists in Bulgaria, the statement says.

The changes also ban project funding for the activities of the professional judges associations. According to the BJA, these associations need project funding in order to organize professional forums, training, workshops, foreign exchange, and to publish guidelines, reference books and other legal literature.

"The supporting arguments that the ban will prevent dependencies on foreign influence are absurd and characteristic of non-democratic societies,” the statement notes.

The BJA also opposes provisions whereby members of the judiciary attempt to introduce career bonuses for members of the Supreme Judicial Council.

The BJA urges those who submitted the draft and their political parties to show responsible and statesmanlike attitude and withdraw the proposals.