The grounds for judicial disciplinary liability and the types of disciplinary violations are being expanded — a judge’s failure to perform, or improper performance of, duties related to judicial activities will be considered a disciplinary offense.

This is stipulated by the planned amendments to the Law on Common Courts, which are currently being discussed in Parliament in the first reading.

According to the explanatory note of the draft law, the disciplinary violations defined by the current law do not cover all possible actions involving a judge’s neglect of official duties.

“This amendment is necessary to strengthen judges’ accountability to the public,” state the initiators of the bill.

The amendments to the Law on Common Courts were prepared by MPs from Georgian Dream and are being reviewed by Parliament under an expedited procedure.