Article 18 of Judicial Organisation Law

The Supreme Judicial Council shall meet upon an invitation by its President. The invitation addressed to the members must be accompanied by an agenda. Its meeting shall not be valid unless at least five of its members attend, and all its deliberations shall be confidential. Decisions shall be issued by a majority of votes, and in the event of a tie, the side with the President shall prevail. The Council shall invite the Minister of Justice to attend its sessions concerning matters at whose consideration the Council considers his attendance appropriate. The Minister may also attend the Council’s meeting to present matters that he considers important to present to it. Neither the Minister, nor specialists or experts accompanying him, nor anyone deputised by the Minister to attend shall have a vote counted 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 pursuant to the same Decree. 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 any information and papers it considers necessary relating to the matters presented to it.