General description

Pursuant to the Act No. 548/2003 on the Judicial Academy of the Slovak Republic, the Judicial Academy of the Slovak republic organize initial training on spring and in autumn of the year. The aim of this form of training is to inform judicial candidates about the development of theory and practice in the judicial system of the Slovak republic as well as court practice in a broader European Context and teach them the skills and work habits necessary to become a judge or prosecutor.

Access to the initial training

The initial training is for candidate judges, candidate prosecutors, higher court officials and assistants of judges of the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic. Pursuant to the Act No. 548/2003 on the Judicial Academy of the Slovak Republic § 3 is initial training obligatory and from that reason is not competitive and is open for all applicants. The information about organization is on our web site where we inform about content, lecturers and the date.

Format and content of the initial training

The training is divided in 2 parts (4 days of training). The first part covered judge statues law, judge´s disciplinary accountability and judge´s ethics, Governance of Office Rules and the supplication thereof, work of register and work with information system and case law of domestic and foreign courts. The second part is covered for rehearsal (training) of a non- criminal judgment and criminal judgment, participation of the public and presence of the media in the court room, court room skill practice, practical skills learning, learning of procedural aspects and habits that are necessary to take a judge´s office, analysis of practical cases, provision of proper reasoning of judgments, procedure without undue delay.

Termination of the initial training and qualification process

The Judicial Academy of the Slovak Republic plan and organize two terms of professional Judicial Examinations in spring and autumn every year for candidate judges, candidate prosecutors, higher court officials and assistants of judges of the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic in written and oral form. The oral form of the professional judicial exam is executed by the Examination Panels, which are nominated by the Board of the Judicial Academy of the Slovak republic. Members of the Examination panels as well as substitute members of Examination Panels are elected for a three – year term.