Judicial Organisation and the Status of Magistrates
Core concepts
Understand the structure of the judiciary: district, regional, appellate, and supreme courts, plus the administrative courts. Know the role of the Supreme Judicial Council in appointments, promotions, and discipline. Learn the status of magistrates - judges and prosecutors - including independence, immunity, and incompatibilities. Master the rules on the magistrate competition and the requirements for appointment.
Traps in questions
- The Supreme Judicial Council manages careers but does not adjudicate cases.
- Judicial immunity protects against liability for official acts, not for criminal conduct.
- Incompatibilities bar certain outside activities; do not assume all outside work is permitted.
- The prosecutor's office is part of the judiciary but has a distinct function from the courts.
Worked example
A candidate asks whether prior legal experience counts for appointment. Rule of thumb: the statutory requirements (legal qualification and experience) are cumulative; meeting one without the other is insufficient.