High Council of Justice

An Albanian appeal court judge, a former member of High Council of Justice, was arrested on Thursday in Tirana on suspicion of taking bribes to ensure the release of a man jailed previously for 20 years for murder.

Judge Shkelqim Miri, 46, was under investigation after his ruling on the case before the Tirana appeal court aroused strong suspicions.

As Albania starts an important process of vetting judges and prosecutors and sets up new justice institutions, the US ambassador to Tirana, Donal Lu, and the General Prosecutor, Adriatik Llalla, have exchanged heated accusations about judicial reform.

Albania is preparing to change its constitution in December as part of an ambitious effort to reform the judicial system, widely considered as the most corrupt field in the country.

However, the main parties still have not agreed a common draft, jeopardizing the chances of success in passing the amendments in parliament.

Commission chairman Fatmir Xhafaj said on Thursday that constitutional changes are needed to revamp the High Council of Justice, the body responsible for nominating judges and for prosecuting them in case of wrongdoing, and to empower the General Prosecutor's Office.

A report by the High Council of Justice, HCJ, on Monday said most of the draws held in Albanian courts to allocate cases to various judges are in effect decided by the head of the court.  

A Special Parliamentary Commission on Monday delivered a damning report on the courts in Albania, saying corruption is widespread at all levels.

This includes the appointment of judges in the most important courts.

The parliamentary investigative commission, which has been boycotted by the opposition Democratic Party, is expected to recommend the dismissal of the deputy chairman of the High Council of Justice, Elvis Cefa, and one of its members, Lulzim Lecaj.

Albania's ruling centre-left coalition faces a battle to rally all its MPs on Thursday in parliament in order to pass plans for the country's administrative-territorial reform and amendments to the law for the organization of the High Council of Justice, HJC.

They require a qualified majority of 84 votes out 140 seats.

In an open letter to the President, parliament and the High Council of Justice the Union of Judges said international standards on the judicial system do not permit denigration of judges in public.