A group of 16 recently graduated judges and prosecutors has filed a lawsuit at the Administrative Court in Tirana against General Prosecutor Arta Marku, President Ilir Meta, and Prime Minister Edi Rama for their failure to be appointed to a full-time function in the judiciary.
Graduates from the School of Magistrates used to be nominated to official positions in the judiciary by the General Prosecutor and the High Council of Justice (KLD) after fulfilling a 6-month internship. However, since the passing of the justice reform laws, this capacity now rests with the High Prosecutorial Council (KLP) and High Judicial Council (KLGj).
As these two governance institutions remain to be formed, the 16 graduates have since July remained without a salary, unable to exercise the functions for which they were educated.
Recently, the government attempted to pass a change to the so-called Status Law, which would allow the General Prosecutor and KLD temporarily to nominate new judges and prosecutors until the KLGj and KLP were formed. This amendment, which requires a qualified majority, was rejected by the opposition stating that both the General Prosecutor and the KLD had been politicized.
