The High Court has published the new list of High Judicial Council (KLGj) candidates, alongside the two sole applicants who responded to the second call for judges from Appeals Courts outside Tirana, published two weeks ago, in violation of the law, by the head of the High Court.
The two new candidates are: Vlora Appeals Court judge, Brikena Ukperaj, a 2017 member of the Justice Appointments Council who passed the vetting on June 25, and Shkodra Appeals Court judge Luan Dervishi, who is currently being vetted as candidate for the Constitutional Court.
The final list of judges who are legally fit to become members of KLGj is:
First Instance Judges:
- Alma Brati (Tirana)
- Astrit Faqolli (Tirana)
- Brunilda Kadi (Tirana)
- Manjola Xhaxho (Tirana)
- Marçela Shehu (Kurbin)
- Dritan Hallunaj (Serious Crimes First Instance Court)
Appeals Courts Judges:
- Ilir Toska – (Tirana)
- Nertina Kosova (Serious Crimes Appeals Court)
- Luan Dervishi (Shkodra) – vetting pending
- Brikena Ukperaj (Vlora)
High Court Judges:
- Medi Bici
According to Law 115/2016 “On governance institutions of the justice system,” the magistrate members of the KLP and KLGj are determined as follows:
- Three of the elected judges are first instance judges. At least 1 (one) of them is a judge of first instance in a court outside Tirana.
- Two of the elected judges are appellate judges. At least 1 (one) of them is judge in an appeal court outside Tirana.
- One of the elected judges is a judge at the High Court.
