Goals and objectives: In 2006, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan in close cooperation with the Council of Europe, launched a new transparent system of selection of judges.

Implementation: The system introduced a number of institutional and structural changes:

• In order to select candidates to a judicial post a new unit named Judges Selection Committee, where majority of members are judges, was established.
• The selection process is a multistage procedure, which includes tests, exams and interviews, long-term trainings and internships in the courts. All the candidates take an exam in a single auditorium under monitoring of local and international observers and mass media.
• A computer program carries out the selection of questions from the databank.
• Examination results are verified and made public in the presence of the candidates on the spot.
• To ensure maximum transparency the exams are broadcasted online on the Internet, which is also an innovation.

It should be noted that in collaboration with prominent European experts, a new concept of training that swaps trainings and internships in the courts was developed. Long-term trainings abroad are also arranged for the candidates of judges. For example, almost 160 candidates for judges took part in two-week seminars in the Academy of Justice of Turkey, which included not only theoretical studies but also the participation in legal proceedings in courts of different instances.

Achievements: Over the last 10 years, up 2,600 judge candidates took part in 4 selection processes and 307 of them succeeded and were appointed to positions of judge. A new generation of judges that encompasses almost 60 percent of the country`s judicial body was selected under the new system.

Replication: The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice recognized it as an interesting good practice; EU experts recommended it for study to other countries participating in the Eastern Partnership program.

Partners: The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), Council of Europe

Contact details:  
Address: 1, Stroiteley Ave, Baku, Azerbaijan
Ministry of Justice
Phone: (+994 12) 510-10-01, 537-05-54
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