“Judges to punish lawyers”

Kreshnik Spahiu, vice chairman of the High Council of Justice has published the results of the inspection for the period of time between the years 2007 and 2008, especially for serious crimes and those of high sensibility for the public.

“The irregularities noted by the inspectors are mainly these: failing to perform uninterrupted investigations; postponing the investigations more than the 15 days deadline assigned by law; handling arguments after the procedural deadlines; failing to report to the respective organs; for prosecutions and lawyers that postpone the court sessions without any reason or who make it on purpose”, Spahiu declared.

Mr. Spahiu said that it is necessary to make some changes in the Code of Penal Procedure.

“There have been recommendations for a series of changes in the Code of Penal Procedure, regarding the administration of the Penal Process, which passed to the Ministry of Justice, Codification Department. The changes are: increasing the competences of the judges for taking punitive measures against the lawyers, decreasing the quorum of the judges, not only for some penal crimes, but also for the Court of Serious Crimes; assigning a quorum for unifying decisions; limiting the rights of the Court of Appeals for turning a case down for review; giving courts the right to stop some penal cases”, Spahiu declared.

The conclusions of this report were sent to the High Council of Justice, where they will be reviewed.

Top Channel learned that there are nine judges whose work resulted with violations in taking decisions, for not giving the right arguments and for not respecting the deadlines. The punitive measures will be taken by the Minister of Justice, as the only competent authority for initiating a procedure against them.

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