The Council of Europe attaches great importance to the status of judges and the quality of the justice system because of the rule of law and the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms – which are key values for the Organisation – depend for their implementation on a strong and independent judiciary. The CCJE may be requested by member States to look into specific problems concerning the status and/or the situation of judges. It addresses topical issues and, if necessary, visits the countries concerned to discuss the ways of improving the existing situation through developing legislation, institutional framework and/or judicial practice.
The CCJE, consultative body concerning independence, impartiality and competence of judges, highlights the essential role of the judicial power in a democratic society. The CCJE is the first body in an international organisation composed exclusively of judges and constitutes therefore a unique body at the European level. Information Leaflet about the CCJE
The CCJE has an advisory function on general questions relating to independence, impartiality and competence of judges. This leads it to prepare opinions for the attention of the Committee of Ministers. The CCJE may also receive requests for opinions from other Council of Europe bodies. Although the opinions given by the CCJE take account of existing national situations, they mainly contain innovative proposals for improving the status of judges and the service provided to members of the public seeking justice.
CCJE OPINIONS AND MAGNA CARTA
The Opinions that the CCJE adopted annually since 2001 and the Magna Carta of Judges adopted in 2010 can be found in the COLLECTION of the Opinions of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) and Magna Carta of Judges
MAGNA CARTA OF JUDGES (2010)
On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, the CCJE adopted, during its 11th plenary meeting (November 2010), a Magna Carta of Judges (Fundamental Principles) summarising and codifying the main conclusions of the Opinions that it already adopted. The Magna Carta is available in Armenian, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, French, German, Greek, Italian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Serbian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Spanish and Romanian.
CCJE OPINIONS
- Opinion n°25 (2022) on freedom of expression of judges also available in Croatian, French, German, Montenegrin, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Ukrainian
- Opinion n°24 (2021) on the evolution of the Councils for the Judiciary
and their role in independent and impartial judicial systems
also available in Albanian, Armenian, Bulgarian, Croatian, French, Georgian, German, Hungarian, Italian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Polish, Romanian, Slovenian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian - Opinion n°23 (2020) on the role of associations of judges in supporting judicial independence
also available in Bulgarian, Croatian, French, German, Italian, Lithuanian, Montenegrin, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion n°22 (2019) on the role of judicial assistants
also available in Bulgarian, Croatian, French, German, Italian, Montenegrin, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian - Opinion n° 21 (2018) preventing corruption among judges
also available in Bulgarian, Croatian, French, German, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion n° 20 (2017) on the role of courts with respect to the uniform application of the law
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, Croatian, French, Georgian, German, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Ukrainian - Opinion n°19 (2016) on the role of court presidents
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, Croatian, French, Georgian, German, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion n°18 (2015) on the position of the judiciary and its relation with the other powers of state in a modern democracy
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, Croatian, French, Georgian, German, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion n°17 (2014) on the evaluation of judges’ work, the quality of justice and respect for judicial independence
also available in Albanian, Armenian, Bulgarian, Croatian, French, Georgian, German, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion n°16 (2013) on the relations between judges and lawyers
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, Croatian, French, Georgian, German, Lithuanian, Macedonian,Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion n°15 (2012) on the specialisation of Judges
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, Croatian, French, Georgian, German, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian - Opinion n°14 (2011) on justice and information technologies (IT)
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, French, Georgian, German, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion n°13 (2010) on the role of Judges in the enforcement of judicial decisions
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, French, Georgian, German, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion No. 12 (2009) on the relations between Judges and Prosecutors in a democratic society
also available in Albanian, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Bulgarian, Czech, Dutch, French, Georgian, German, Greek, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian
Bordeaux Declaration “Judges and Prosecutors in a Democratic Society” is also available in Italian
- Opinion n°11 (2008) on “the quality of judicial decisions”
also available in Bulgarian, Croatian, Dutch, Estonian, French, Georgian, German, Italian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion n°10 (2007) on “Council for the Judiciary in the service of society”
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Dutch, Georgian, German, Estonian, French, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion n°9 (2006) on “the role of national judges in ensuring an effective application of international and European law“
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, French, Georgian, German, Estonian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovakian, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion n°8 (2006) on “the role of judges in the protection of the rule of law and human rights in the context of terrorism”
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, French, Georgian, German, Estonian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion N° 7 (2005) on “justice and society”
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, Croatian, French, Georgian, German, Estonian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion N° 6 (2004) on fair trial with a reasonable time
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, French, Georgian, German, Estonian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion N° 5 (2003) on the law and practice of judicial appointments to the European court of human rights
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, French, Georgian, German, Estonian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion N° 4 (2003) on training for judges
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, French, Georgian, German, Estonian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Ukrainian - Opinion N° 3 (2002) on ethics and liability of judges
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, French, Georgian, German, Estonian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Serbian, Spanish, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Ukrainia - Opinion N° 2 (2001) on the funding and management of courts
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, French, Georgian, German, Estonian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Polish, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian - Opinion N° 1 (2001) on standards concerning the independence of the judiciary and the irremovability of judges
also available in Armenian, Bulgarian, Dutch, French, Georgian, German, Estonian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Polish, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian
Source: https://www.coe.int/en/web/ccje/ccje-opinions-and-magna-carta
By
Robert Williams