Requirements to be a judge

In this section, we can easily refer to the Constitution, the Judicial System Act, and the website of the National Institute of Justice. We could also state that wearing a judicial robe, working in the courtroom before the flags of Bulgaria and the European Union, and handing down rulings in actual legal disputes entails an immense responsibility. However, this is not enough to outline the mandatory conditions, the powers of judges, and the requirements placed upon them in the course of practicing their profession.

The Status of Judges in Bulgaria

The aim is to dedicate space to discussing the legal framework and its reform; the planning of recruitment competitions; the duration and scope of training for junior judges, newly appointed judges, and ongoing professional development; the necessity of a new judicial map; the implications of judicial irremovability and immunity; the frequency of performance appraisals; the conditions under which disciplinary liability is triggered; the scope of inspections conducted (or that should be conducted) by the Inspectorate to the Supreme Judicial Council; the powers of general assemblies of courts; the actual administrative tools available to court presidents; and many other topics affecting both the internal functioning of the system and its overall public image in the eyes of society and state institutions.

We must also address the numerous issues surrounding the judiciary’s budget, including its planning and allocation. Let us preserve social and professional material incentives, and explain—in the context of upholding the principles of the rule of law, independence, and integrity—the importance of the quality of life we ​​deserve. And let us convincingly bring the issue of judges' professional well-being to the attention of all branches of government in Bulgaria.