The Legal Issues Committee heard the candidate for the Supreme Court Judge, Lali Papiashvili.

The Chair of the Committee, Anri Okhanashvili introduced the biographic data of the candidate, who in 2004-2007 was the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, and within December, 2007-December, 2017 – the Member of the Constitutional Court. Within November, 2016-December, 2017 she also was the Deputy Chair of the Constitutional Court.

The candidate addressed the attendees: “I am honored to participate in the transparent and open Judge selection process. First of all, I would like to wish successful judicial reform in general as protection of the rights, fate of the citizens, protection quality and improvement of the economic conditions, as well as attraction of investments mostly depend on how fair, impartial, timely and legal are the decisions made by the Court. I realize the responsibility related to this position and I realize the complexity and the burden that is required of the Judge. If I am approved by the Committee and the Parliament, I promise to try to contribute in this reform”.

MPs asked about the decisions on self-diversion from consideration of the Constitutional appeals in the Constitutional Court; freedom of speech and expression; hate language; her activity when being the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee; human rights state within those period; judicial independence in 2003-2012; independence of the Constitutional Court judges; their participation of Judge selection competition in Strasbourg Court; gender quotation; positive discrimination; Constitution articles; UN Convention and optional protocol on Persons with Disabilities; jurisdiction of international criminal court; right to protect the witness of the journalist; equality and adversarial principles; importance of secularism for Constitutionalism etc.

The attendees asked about her opinion: whether pardon by the President shall be based on certain criterion; obligation of the President upon pardon to explain the made decision; expediency of life tenure of Supreme Court judges; expediency of rotation of active political figures to the judicial system; possible equality gaps in Georgian legislation; restriction of gambling; role of the advocacy in fair jurisdiction etc.

The sitting was attended by the Majority and Opposition Factions, independent MPs; representatives of the Public Defender, Legal Aid Service and NGOs Coalition.

The candidate also answered the questions by the citizens.

The Committee will resume to the interviewing process on November 4. “We accomplish the interviews on November 4 and I believe that this is an unprecedented and historical process achieved by us”, - A. Okhanashvili noted.

There are five more candidates remaining: Nino Kadagidze, Lasha Kochiashvili, Ketevan Tsintsadze, Alexander Tsuladze and Gocha Jeiranashvili. At present, the Committee has already heard 15 candidates: Tamar Alania, Merab Gabinashvili, Shota Getsadze, Miranda Eremadze, Mamuka Vasadze, Maia Vachadze, Tamar Zambakhidze, Shalva Tadumadze, Paata Silagadze, Zaza Tavadze, Vladimir Kakabadze, Levan Mikaberidze, Giorgi Mikautadze, Nugzar Skhirtladze and Lali Papiashvili.

The interviews are being held according to the American model and monitored by OSCE/ODIHR office.