JUDICIAL COUNCIL RULES AGAINST DISCIPLINARY MEASURES AGAINST JUDGE

ZAGREB, Feb 27 (Hina) - The State Judicial Council (DSV) on Thursday established that Split judge Slavko Lozina did not abuse his position or overstep his authority when he held a press conference without approval because he did not speak about any particular court proceeding. #L# The DSV rejected a request by the president of Split's county court, Igor Benzon, for disciplinary measures against Lozina a judge with that court. The DSV acquitted Lozina of disciplinary measures, claiming that by holding a press conference without Benzon's approval, he did not abuse his duties or transgress his authority because he did not make reference to any particular trial, making remarks only in passing, the president of the DSV, Stanko Hautz, said explaining the council's decision. "There is something ethically wrong in Lozina's conduct, but he did not do anything that requires disciplinary action," Hautz said. Lozina claimed he had called the news conference at the suggestion of the Association of Croatian Judges following several months of what he described had been a media lynch because of the Lora war crimes and Vinko Budisa trials. Lozina said he had to protect his honour and the court's reputation because the accusations against him were intolerable, for example that he had protected a murderer for four years or that he was responsible for the disappearance of a gun that was supposed to be evidence against Budisa. Lozina's defence attorney Evelin Tonkovic said that Lozina was oppressed and when no-one else defended him, he had the right to fall back on self-help. Benzon claimed that the honour and reputation of judges and courts were defended in the courtroom and not at press conferences. The DSV accepted a proposal by the president of Split Municipal Court Vlado Madunic to initiate disciplinary measures against four judges in that court because of too many cases that had extended over their statutory limitation. (hina) sp ha