The Judicial Council elected a new list of candidates for the post of judge at the European Court of Human Rights

The Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic at its 9th session discussed the issue of who is a suitable candidate to hold the post of judge at the European Court of Human Rights. Currently, Alena Poláčková holds this position. Her mandate expires on December 28th of this year. Slovakia must submit a list of three candidates approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic by the end of her term. After today's session, three candidates - Daniela Ježová, Ondrej Laciak and Radoslav Procházka - are one step closer.  The Judicial Council first heard all the proposed candidates. While two of these candidates have applied for the post in the past, Daniela Ježová is the new candidate. She received 11 votes from the fourteen members of the Judicial Council present. "It is a great honour for me to be a candidate for this post and I see it as a service. I would like to focus on Article Eight, which is the one I am most dedicated to, in conjunction with the overlap with the other articles within the Convention", said Daniela Ježová, the successful candidate. Ondrej Laciak received all fourteen "yes" votes. "I was heard again by the Judicial Council in the context of my candidacy for judge of the European Court of Human Rights. The members of the Judicial Council asked me various questions, which were traditionally not very easy. I believe that I convinced them, given that I received the full number of votes, and I am thankful to the Judicial Council for the support", said Ondrej Laciak. Should Ondrej Laciak be elected as a judge of the ECtHR, he would try to translate into some judgments more explanations of the principles of the rule of law. Radoslav Procházka rounded out the three candidates. He also received full support from all the members of the Judicial Council present. "In a body like the ECtHR, the agenda is very varied, as are the areas that may be affected by the intervention of a member state. A person must be ready to deal with every agenda that lands on his or her table", according to Radoslav Procházka. However, the road to the international judicial post is still long. The proposed candidate must first be approved by the government. Subsequently, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will elect a new ECtHR judge for the Slovak Republic from a list of three candidates submitted by the Government of the Slovak Republic.