Turkish Constitutional Court rescinds powers of Justice Minister
Turkish Constitutional Court partly annuls the new HSYK law. The Justice Minister's powers on judicial assignments was found to be unconstitutional.
ANKARA
The Turkish Constitutional Court Friday partly rescinded the new law on the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) which Parliament passed in January.
The Constitutional Court found that law enabling the Justice Minister to appoint HSYK's Head of Inspection and Control Board unconstitutional.
The bill, approved by President Abdullah Gul in February, had transferred some of the powers of the HSYK to its chairman, the Justice Minister.
The Constitutional Court has repealed the Justice Minister's power to appoint the HSYK members to the departments within the body of HSYK.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court rejected the opposition party's demand for the cancellation of the Justice minister's power over the Turkish Justice Academy. The law allows Turkey’s government to have more control in the training of judges by transferring their training from the judicial board to the Turkish Justice Academy.
The HSYK is the top body in charge of the assignments of judges and prosecutors. HSYK also acts as a high court in investigations towards all judicial staff.
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