Courts of the Slovak Republic

- Constitution of Slovakia

Part Two - Courts of the Slovak Republic

Article 141

(1) Justice in the Slovak Republic is administered by independent and impartial courts.

(2) Justice at all levels is administered independently of other state bodies.

Article 142

(1) Courts decide on civil law and criminal law matters and reexamine the legitimacy of administrative bodies' decisions.

(2) Court decisions are made by tribunals of judges, unless the law specifies that the matter is to be decided by a single judge. A law will specify in which cases decisions by tribunals of judges are attended by associate judges from the ranks of citizens.

(3) Verdicts are proclaimed in the name of the Slovak Republic. They are always proclaimed publicly.

Article 143

(1) The system of courts consists of the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic and other courts.

(2) The detailed arrangement of the court system, the courts' sphere of competence and organization, and the manner of court proceedings will be set out in a law.

Article 144

(1) Judges are independent in making decisions and bound solely by the law.

(2) In cases specified by the Constitution or the law, judges are bound also by international treaties.

(3) If the court is of the opinion that another generally binding legal regulation is at variance with the law, it will interrupt its deliberations and propose that a proceeding before the Constitutional Court be initiated. The finding of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic is binding for it, as well as for other courts.

Article 145

(1) Judges are elected by the National Council of the Slovak Republic at the recommendation of the Government of the Slovak Republic for four years. After the expiry of this term, at the recommendation of the Government of the Slovak Republic, the National Council of the Slovak Republic elects judges for an unlimited period of time.

(2) The chairman and deputy chairmen of the Supreme Court are elected by the National Council of the Slovak Republic from the ranks of judges of the Supreme Court for a period of five years, for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

Article 146

A judge may surrender his post.

Article 147

(1) The National Council of the Slovak Republic will recall a judge

a) on the basis of a legally valid sentence passed for a deliberate criminal offense,

b) on the basis of a disciplinary court decision made on account of a deed that is incompatible with the execution of his post.

(2) The National Council of the Slovak Republic may recall a judge

a) if his state of health does not allow him over the long term, for a period of at least one year, to properly discharge his duties as judge,

b) if he has reached the age of 65.

(3) Prior to recalling a judge from his post, the National Council of the Slovak Republic will ask the appropriate disciplinary court for its standpoint.

Article 148

(1) The status, rights, and duties of judges will be defined by law.

(2) The manner of appointing associate judges will be defined by law.