Powers
According to Article 141 (6) of the Slovak Constitution the Judicial Council has following competences:
a) provide for the performance of the tasks of public control of the judiciary,
b) adopt an opinion as to whether a candidate for appointment to the post of judge meets the prerequisites of judicial eligibility that give assurance that they will discharge the duties of a judge properly,
c) submit to the President of the Slovak Republic names of candidates proposed to be appointed judges and proposed names of judges to be removed,
d) decide on assignment and transfer of judges,
e) submit to the President of the Slovak Republic proposals to appoint the chairman and deputy chairman of the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic, the chairman and deputy chairman of the Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic and for their recall,
f) submit to the Government of the Slovak Republic proposals of candidates for judges who should represent the Slovak Republic in international judicial bodies,
g) comment on a draft budget of the Slovak Republic courts in the process of drafting of the state budget and submit to the National Council of the Slovak Republic an opinion on the draft budget of the Slovak Republic courts,
h) supervise whether a judge meets the prerequisites of judicial eligibility that give assurance that they will discharge the duties of a judge properly for the entire duration of the judicial function,
i) supervise and act in matters of property of a judge,
j) issue the principles of judicial ethics in cooperation with the bodies of judicial self-administration,
k) other competence, if so provided by law.
According to Act no. 185/2002 Coll. on the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, the Judicial Council
(a) shall participate, to the extent provided by law, in the management and administration of the courts of the Slovak Republic,
(b) shall evaluate reports on the results of the internal review of the courts, analyse the causes of the deficiencies found and propose measures for their elimination,
(c) adopt measures to strengthen public confidence in the judiciary,
(d) ensure the participation of its members in the sessions of the plenary of the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic and the plenary of the Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic and in the selection commissions pursuant to a special regulation,
(e) perform other tasks laid down by law.
In exercising its powers regarding the examination of the prerequisites for judicial competence and the financial situation of judges, the Judicial Council
(a) act on matters concerning the written declaration of the judge and the judge's declaration of assets and on matters concerning the judge's assets,
(b) enforce measures aimed at the permanent fulfilment of the prerequisites of judicial competence which guarantee that the judge will perform their duties properly,
(c) supervise the fulfilment of the prerequisites of judicial competence,
(d) verify the fulfilment of the prerequisites of judicial fitness by candidates for the office of judge,
(e) adopt opinions pursuant to this Act,
(f) exercise the power of suggestion in matters of disciplinary responsibility of judges.
Before March 30 of each year The Judicial Council shall prepare and publish on its website, a report on the exercise of its jurisdiction for the preceding calendar year and shall inform the public in other appropriate forms.
