Violence and Hate Speech Against Judges as the Topic of the Meeting of Judicial Councils
The European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ), under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Austria, organized a meeting of its member states on 2–3 October 2025 in Vienna within the framework of the project group on Independence, Accountability, and Quality of the Judiciary.
The meeting was attended by representatives from 23 countries, including the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, represented by its member Dana Jelinková Dudzíková. Anna Sporrer, Minister of Justice of Austria, opened the event.
The purpose of the meeting was to exchange information on current developments in the member states, to present upcoming activities of the ENCJ, and to address the topic of violence and hate speech directed at judges.
The Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic informed participants about recent legislative changes concerning disciplinary judiciary and the consolidation of judges’ salaries. As part of its innovations, the Slovak Judicial Council highlighted the streamlining and acceleration of the judicial vetting process as well as the automated transcription of public statements made by council members during its sessions. The Judicial Council also contributed to the discussion by emphasizing the importance of addressing violence and attacks against judges, referring to specific cases from Slovakia.
“This is a very significant topic — one only has to look at the results of the latest ENCJ survey to see its relevance. I am therefore very pleased that a representative of the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic took part in this discussion at the European level. Our Judicial Council has gradually built a position within the ENCJ as an active and respected member,” said Marcela Kosová, President of the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic.
"In connection with hate speech, I informed the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary and partner states about the particularly worrying situation in Slovakia and about the inflammatory media campaign, often based on misinterpretation of the legal order, not only against judges for the performance of their decision-making activities, but also against the Judicial Council and its members, which as a body is exposed to a concentration of frustration materialized into inappropriate attacks," concluded Dana Jelinková Dudzíková."
The meeting was attended by representatives from 23 countries, including the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, represented by its member Dana Jelinková Dudzíková. Anna Sporrer, Minister of Justice of Austria, opened the event.
The purpose of the meeting was to exchange information on current developments in the member states, to present upcoming activities of the ENCJ, and to address the topic of violence and hate speech directed at judges.
The Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic informed participants about recent legislative changes concerning disciplinary judiciary and the consolidation of judges’ salaries. As part of its innovations, the Slovak Judicial Council highlighted the streamlining and acceleration of the judicial vetting process as well as the automated transcription of public statements made by council members during its sessions. The Judicial Council also contributed to the discussion by emphasizing the importance of addressing violence and attacks against judges, referring to specific cases from Slovakia.
“This is a very significant topic — one only has to look at the results of the latest ENCJ survey to see its relevance. I am therefore very pleased that a representative of the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic took part in this discussion at the European level. Our Judicial Council has gradually built a position within the ENCJ as an active and respected member,” said Marcela Kosová, President of the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic.
"In connection with hate speech, I informed the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary and partner states about the particularly worrying situation in Slovakia and about the inflammatory media campaign, often based on misinterpretation of the legal order, not only against judges for the performance of their decision-making activities, but also against the Judicial Council and its members, which as a body is exposed to a concentration of frustration materialized into inappropriate attacks," concluded Dana Jelinková Dudzíková."
