Original report from Phnom Penh
11 December 2007
The Supreme Council of the Magistracy will meet next week to decide on rotations of court judges and other officials nationwide, in a decision that will affect at least a quarter of the judiciary and could stymie favoritism.
Judges who have worked for four years or more in one city or province will be moved to another, according to a source familiar with the proceedings, who spoke on conditions of anonymity.
The meeting will be held under the leadership of King Norodom Sihamoni—a constitutional monarch with few political powers.
The shuffle was hailed as a positive development by civic groups.
"This is a justice system reform, and can help in curbing corruption," said Sok Samoeun, executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project.
Groups have called in the past for the Council to shift the judges, in order to prevent cronyism, he said. "After a while, provincial high-ranking officials become friends, and this can lead to bias."
Judges who have worked for four years or more in one city or province will be moved to another, according to a source familiar with the proceedings, who spoke on conditions of anonymity.
The meeting will be held under the leadership of King Norodom Sihamoni—a constitutional monarch with few political powers.
The shuffle was hailed as a positive development by civic groups.
"This is a justice system reform, and can help in curbing corruption," said Sok Samoeun, executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project.
Groups have called in the past for the Council to shift the judges, in order to prevent cronyism, he said. "After a while, provincial high-ranking officials become friends, and this can lead to bias."
