CROATIAN HIGH COURT OVERTURNS STATE JUDICIAL COUNCIL DECISION

ZAGREB, March 29 (Hina) - The Croatian Constitutional Court has overturned a High Judicial Council decision on the appointment of Supreme Court judges from February 16, 1995. The Constitutional Court has told the Council to repeat a debate and the voting on candidates and their appointments as judges to the Supreme Court. The Constitutional Court thinks that no adequate debate had been held on expertise and other qualities of judges who were candidates for the Supreme Court. The Consitutional Court said no reasons were given on why some candidtates were proposed to be appointed and others were not, and the decision mean mere voting without any arguments. Responding to questions on whether the Council was entitled to lessen the number of available offices of judges, the Constitutional Court held that by decreasing the number of available offices, the Council had violated the constitutional law from Articles 26 and 44 of the Constitution, and at the same time had violated the principle of dividing the power, unconstitutionally assuming authorities of the Justice Ministry. (hina) mm sd mms 291804 MET mar 95