Powers
According to Article 141 (6) of the Slovak Constitution, the Judicial Council has following powers:
a) to ensure the fulfilment of public judicial controlling tasks,
b) to adopt an opinion as to whether the candidate for the appointment of a judge meets the prerequisites of judicial competence which guarantee that the office of the judge will be properly performed,
c) to submit to the President of the Slovak Republic proposals for candidates for the appointment of judges and proposals for the dismissal of judges,
d) to decide on the assignment and transfer of judges,
e) to submit to the President of the Slovak Republic proposals for appointment of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic and the Chair and Vice Chair of the Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic and proposals for their dismissal,
f) to submit to the Government of the Slovak Republic proposals for candidates for judges who should act on behalf of the Slovak Republic in international judicial bodies,
g) to comment on the draft budget of the courts of the Slovak Republic when drawing up the draft of the state budget and to submit an opinion on the draft budget of the courts to the National Council of the Slovak Republic,
h) to supervise whether the judge meets the prerequisites for judicial competence, which guarantee that he or she will perform the office of a judge properly for the entire duration of the judge´s office,
i) to supervise and act in matters of the financial situation of the judge,
j) to issue principles of judicial ethics in cooperation with the bodies of judicial self-government,
k) the other scope, 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, analyze 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, as well as in the selection commissions pursuant to a special regulation,
e) perform other tasks laid down by law.
In exercising its powers under Article 141b of the Constitution, the Judicial Council
a) acts 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) enforces measures aimed at the permanent fulfilment of the prerequisites of judicial competence which guarantee that the judge will perform their duties properly,
c) supervises the fulfilment of the prerequisites of judicial competence,
d) verifies the fulfilment of the prerequisites of judicial eligibility of candidates for the office of judge,
e) adopts opinions,
f) exercises the power of suggestion in matters of disciplinary responsibility of judges.
By 30 March each year, the Judicial Council shall prepare and publish a report on the exercise of its jurisdiction for the preceding calendar year on its website, and it shall inform the public in other appropriate forms.
