Judge Teodora Karabasheva about the I-JUMP program

The representative of the Bulgarian Association of Women Judges in the International Judicial Mentoring Programme (I-JUMP), organized by the International Training Committee of the Judicial College of England and Wales Author: Teodora Karabasheva, Judge at Sofia Regional Court

It is with genuine joy, gratitude and a deep sense of professional responsibility that I take part in the International Judicial Mentoring Programme (I-JUMP), organised by the International Training Committee of the Judicial College of England and Wales, as a representative of the Association of Women Judges in Bulgaria.

The programme runs for six months, during which I will be paired with Judge Michelle Smith from Birmingham, England. I see this as a valuable opportunity to exchange professional experience, discuss the challenges of facing the judiciary and gain a deeper understanding of the judge as the person under the robe.

I believe that being a good judge means not only having a thorough knowledge of the law and taking responsibility for one’s decisions, but also remaining committed to lifelong learning and continuous professional development.

This is one of the principal reasons why I embraced the opportunity to participate in the programme with such enthusiasm. Over the upcoming six months, I hope to broaden my professional horizons, learn more about good practices within the common law tradition, and deepen my understanding of issues such as judicial independence and professional ethics.

My participation in the programme also opens the door to a more in-depth exploration of how judges build and sustain public confidence in the judiciary, how they foster professional resilience and well-being, and how they respond to the complex challenges which arise in a rapidly evolving social and technological community.

What I particularly value about international initiatives of this kind is the opportunity to look beyond the boundaries of our own legal systems, exchange experiences, and identify approaches and solutions that may offer valuable insights and have relevance across different jurisdictions. I firmly believe that mentoring is a two-way process: it is not simply an opportunity to acquire knowledge, but also to share one’s own experience, ask questions, challenge assumptions and reflect critically on established practices.

I also see my participation as an opportunity to contribute to this dialogue by sharing my professional experience and perspective on the judicial work in Bulgaria. Every legal system has its own distinctive features, yet the pursuit of independent, competent and fair justice is a shared value.

It is a privilege to be part of an international initiative of this kind. I approach it with an open mind, curiosity and a genuine willingness to learn, deeply convinced that the advancement of justice also depends on the willingness of those who serve it to continue learning, reflecting and growing throughout their professional lives.

I share the idea that a strong judiciary is built not only on laws and institutions, but also on professionals who are willing to learn from one another, share knowledge and uphold common values — growing together, supporting one another and working side by side in the name of improvement of justice.