Article 17 of Judicial Organisation Law

The Supreme Judicial Council shall be competent to consider, at the request of the Minister of Justice, all matters relating to the appointment of judges and members of the Public Prosecution, their promotion, transfer and secondment to work other than their original work, in the manner specified in this Law. The Council may express its opinion on matters relating to the judiciary and the Public Prosecution, and may propose whatever it deems appropriate concerning them on its own initiative or at the request of the Minister of Justice. Article 18 (2) The Supreme Judicial Council shall meet at the invitation of its President. The invitation addressed to members shall be accompanied by an agenda. Its meeting shall be valid only if at least five of its members are present, and all its deliberations shall be confidential. Decisions shall be adopted by majority vote; in the event of a tie, the side on which the President votes shall prevail. The Council shall invite the Minister of Justice to attend its sessions on subjects for whose consideration it deems his attendance appropriate. The Minister may also attend the Council's meeting to present subjects he considers important to submit to it. Neither the Minister, nor any specialists or persons with expertise accompanying him, nor anyone deputized by the Minister to attend shall have a counted vote when voting on decisions. (1) Replaced pursuant to Decree-Law No. 68 of 2025 (2) The first paragraph was replaced pursuant to Decree-Law No. 68 of 2025, and a paragraph was also added under the same Decree Law Index 706 Home Page Judicial Organization Law Decree-Law No. 23 of 1990 concerning Judicial Organization The Supreme Judicial Council shall issue regulations setting out the rules and procedures followed by the Council in exercising its powers and its meeting place. The Council may request from the Ministry of Justice all information and documents it deems necessary relating to the subjects submitted to it. Part Three: Judges Chapter One: Appointment, Promotion and Seniority of Judges