The CCJE Working Group met in Rome on 3-5 April 2024 to discuss the draft structure for the CCJE Opinion No. 27 (2024) on the disciplinary liability of judges.

The members of the Working Group discussed and finalised the draft structure of the Opinion prepared on the basis of previous Opinions of the CCJE, as well as Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and relevant instruments of the Venice Commission, European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) and other institutions within and outside of the Council of Europe.

The participants agreed that it would be important to elaborate and provide a set of recommendations as regards, in particular, the legal and procedural framework for the disciplinary liability of judges, safeguards against undue interference in such proceedings, the independent, impartial and transparent manner in which these proceedings should be held, guarantees for the participation of judges against whom the proceedings were initiated, possibilities of appeal of the decisions taken, proportionality of sanctions and other relevant aspects.

The members of the Working Group strongly thanked the High Council of the Judiciary of Italy for inviting and organising the meeting at its premises, as well as Judge Valeria Piccone, CCJE member in respect of Italy, for her contribution to the work of the CCJE and also for organising a visit of the Working Group to the Supreme Court of Cassation of Italy.