According to Article 142 of the Judicial Code, the grounds for subjecting a judge to disciplinary liability are:

1) obvious and gross violation of provisions of substantive or procedural law while administering justice or exercising — as a court — other powers provided for by law;

2) gross violation by the judge of the rules of judicial conduct prescribed by this Code, committed with intent or gross negligence;.

In the Republic of Armenia, a judge is subject to disciplinary liability only by one body, the Supreme Judicial Council, on the grounds of violating the requirements of the RA Judicial Code. 8 judges were subjected to disciplinary liability in 2020.  Authorities of 2 of those judges were terminated. Iravaban.net presents the names of 8 judges  subjected to disciplinary responsibility in 2020.

Disciplinary proceedings were instituted against:

Vahe Khalatyan: Judge of the Court of First Instance of Armavir Marz – powers was terminated on basis of a significant disciplinary violation.

Naira Mkhitaryan: Judge of the Court of First Instance of General jurisdiction of Lori Marz – powers was terminated on basis of a significant disciplinary violation.

Mekhak Gevorgyan: Judge of the Court of First Instance of Kotayk Marz – warning

Ruben Nersisyan: Judge of the Court of First Instance of the city of Yerevan – warning

Vardan Grigoryan: Judge of the Court of First Instance of the city of Yerevan – warning

Syuzanna Ulikhanyan: Judge of the Court of First Instance of Tavush Region – warning

Tigran Poladyan: Judge of Bankruptcy Court – warning

Naira Hovsepyan: Judge of First Instance Court of the city of Yerevan – warning

It should be noted that according to Article 149 of the Judicial Code, as a result of examining the issue of subjecting a judge to disciplinary liability, the Supreme Judicial Council may apply one of the following types of disciplinary sanctions to a judge:

1) warning,

2) reprimand,

3) severe reprimand,

4) termination of powers on the basis of a significant disciplinary violation.

3.1) Prohibition to be included in the list during the regular and extraordinary completion of the list of candidates for promoted judges for a period of one year;

3.2) dismissal from the position of the President of the Court or the President of the Chamber of the Court of Cassation;

According to Article 145 of the Code, the following have the right to initiate disciplinary proceedings against a judge:

1) Ethics and Disciplinary Commission;

2) The Authorized Body (Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia: Editor)

3) The Corruption Prevention Commission.

Yevgenya Hambardzumyan