The appointment of the judges of the Supreme Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court and the courts’ operation, together with the Court of Appeal that will start operations on July 1, 2023, completes a fundamental reform of the judicial system that remained attached to the practical structures of the 1960s, said on Thursday night, President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades.

He was speaking during the ceremony of assurance of the new Presidents and members of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Constitutional Court, at the Presidential Palace, in the presence, among others, of the President of the Parliament, the Justice Minister and other officials.

“The important development for the administration of justice is the result of the close cooperation between the Government, the Supreme Court, the Attorney General and the Bar Association, as well as the high sense of responsibility shown by the political forces by adopting the bills submitted to Parliament”, President Anastasiades said.

Antonis Liatsos was appointed as President of the Supreme Constitutional Court and Tereza Karakanna, Marika Papathoma, Dora Sokratous, Stalo Hadjiyianni, Tasia Psara-Miltiadou, Elias Georgiou, Tefkros Economou and Nicolas Santis as members.

Katerina Stamatiou was appointed as President of the Supreme Court and Lena Demetriadou-Andreou, Elena Ephraim, Yasemis Yasemi, Angelos David, Ioannis Ioannides and Haris Malahtos as members.

President Anastasiades recalled that towards the implementation of their plans and goals, they proceeded with a series of legislations and projects that led to an increase in the number of district judges, in the first stage, by 40, an increase of 54% compared to the number of judges in 2013, not including the increase of judges of the Supreme Constitutional Court and the Court of Appeal, the establishment of new courts, such as the Commercial Court, the Maritime Court, the Administrative Court and the Court of International Protection.

President Anastasiades also referred to actions to protect and safeguard the rights of the child, and to combat corruption.

He also referred to the establishment of the School of Judges and the introduction of e-justice, noting that, it is expected that, by 2025 the digital recording of proceedings will be introduced while the construction of important courthouse building infrastructure projects, with a total cost of more than €100 million, will be completed.

The President of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Antonis Liatsos, said that, the establishment of a Constitutional Court, as a separate judicial body, was deemed necessary in order, among other things, to facilitate the guarding and promotion of the Rule of Law, as this was also pointed out by the Venice Commission.

On behalf of all the members of the Supreme Constitutional Court, he gave the assurance that they will do their utmost, to ensure that, during their term, the Supreme Constitutional Court will fulfill its mission to the full, “responding to the justified expectations of society.”

The President of the Supreme Court, Katerina Stamatiou, in her own speech, said, among other things, that this appointment is a special honour and at the same time a great challenge.

The task assigned to the Supreme Court is particularly difficult under today's conditions, where the implementation of the Justice Reform is required, which aims to upgrade the system, with a particular emphasis on the timely delivery of justice, “an area in which we lag behind European standards”, she said. She noted that the challenge of implementing the reform is great and there is no choice but to succeed. Stamatiou said that they will work with all their might, to lead the justice of the country into a new era, always respecting the value of the work of the judges from the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus until today.