27 October 2020
The High Judicial Council (HJC) accepted the request of the High Inspector of Justice (HIJ) to initiate disciplinary proceedings, with the proposed disciplinary measure of “Dismissal from Office,” against magistrate Sh. M., a judge at the Tirana Court of Appeal.
Magistrate Sh. M. was found guilty by the former Tirana Court of Appeals for Serious Crimes on 27 February 2019 of the criminal offense of “Passive corruption of judges, prosecutors and other officials of the justice system,” as provided for under Article 319/c of the Criminal Code.
The HIJ inspectors found that the judge’s actions had undermined the proper functioning of the justice institutions, both through the improper actions of external persons and through his own actions as a justice official. These actions undermined the confidence of the parties to the proceedings and the public in the justice institutions and in their compliance with the law, and seriously discredited the position and standing of the magistrate.
Furthermore, the improper exercise of his duties by the magistrate had consequences for the administration of justice, seriously discredited the position and standing of the judge, and undermined public confidence in the justice system.
The HIJ report concluded that the nature of the magistrate’s misconduct constituted a “Very serious disciplinary violation” and proposed that the HJC impose the disciplinary measure of “Dismissal from Office” on magistrate Sh. M., a request which was accepted by the High Judicial Council.
