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The panel of judges of the Supreme Judicial Council (CSJ) has announced that the trials will continue without the presence of journalists and the public, although the state of emergency ends on May 13 and, according to the constitution, the cases are heard in public.
The media will be connected to the judiciary by waiting for lawyers and prosecutors in front of the courts. The other option is to wait for a special statement from the court’s press service.
The most objective way to obtain information on court hearings in emblematic cases is still the record. They are always significantly delayed, which will destroy the ability to inform the public in a timely manner.
Court press officers will be required to provide more active information about cases by any means. The minutes of the hearings will be made public “if possible.” Courts must prepare detailed reports on cases of public interest every day.
SJC member Boyan Novanski explained that journalists simply walked through the courts and wondered who to mess with. That’s why access to cases should have been banned, Novanski said, quoted by lex.bg. Atanaska Disheva suggested allowing the media in socially significant cases, but this was not accepted.
It is not clear on the basis of which law the SJC Judicial College completely abolished the publicity of the judicial process, which is enshrined in the constitution.
Paragraph 3 of article 121 of the Constitution proclaims that “Hearing of cases in all courts is public, unless the law provides otherwiseThe SJC panel of judges has no power to repeal the constitutional text, as long as the state of emergency no longer takes effect after May 13. The SJC could establish a special organization instead of literally repealing the constitution.
Eight members of the panel proposed measures to “normalize” the work of the courts. They were prepared after a video conference with the presidents of the country’s courts of appeal.
Courts have an opportunity to defer cases if it is not possible to comply with anti-epidemic measures in buildings. The opportunity for video conference meetings should be provided.
All participants in the process will continue to have access to the court buildings. They must have personal protective equipment: gloves and masks. If they do not have them, they must be distributed at the entrances. Apparently sick people will not be allowed in buildings.
The presidents of the courts will determine the complete organization of the judicial procedures and the coordination of the implementation after the coordination with the judicial guards. Buildings must be disinfected several times a day. Automatic disinfectants should be installed at the entrances of court buildings.
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