Georgia’s Public Defender finds High Council of Justice withheld public information

Georgia’s Public Defender has determined that the High Council of Justice, an independent body responsible for selecting and appointing judges and other judicial matters, had violated the public’s right to access information, following a complaint by the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA).

The Public Defender’s Office confirmed that the Council had unlawfully refused to provide requested public information over a prolonged period.

GYLA said it had filed lawsuits against both the High Council of Justice and the High School of Justice on December 14, 2023, after repeated attempts to obtain information were ignored. The cases, submitted to Tbilisi City Court, have yet to be scheduled for trial.

Despite the ongoing legal action, GYLA said it continued to seek the requested materials from the Council, but no response has been received. The group subsequently appealed to the Public Defender for assistance.

In correspondence with the Public Defender, the High Council of Justice reportedly acknowledged that the requested information had not been disclosed but failed to explain the legal or factual reasons for the refusal.

“The letter does not explain the information they will release to the public,” GYLA noted.