In brief
At the General Assembly of Judges in Sofia, Maria Terziyska urged updating the Supreme Judicial Council’s regulations on court staff status, administration and ethical conduct, while Krasimira Doneva called for transparent personnel decisions and stronger accountability mechanisms. Both candidates stressed the need to rebuild public trust, though their proposals remain unadopted by the council.
At the General Assembly of Judges in Sofia on Saturday, October 31, 2026, candidates Maria Terziyska and Krasimira Doneva presented their visions for reforming Bulgaria’s Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).
Terziyska, a deputy chair of the Varna Regional Court, said the next SJC should prioritize revising secondary legislation that governs the status and administration of court staff and the ethical conduct of judges. She noted rising public scrutiny of magistrates and suggested that clearer regulations would strengthen professional integrity and improve court effectiveness.
"As a judge, I always strive to apply the law correctly and fairly and to observe the principles of ethical conduct for magistrates," Teresa said. "Professional integrity is an essential part of quality justice."
Terziyska’s call for updated rules is confirmed by her statements, but the specific amendments remain to be determined by the forthcoming council, meaning the proposals are still unconfirmed in terms of legislative text.
Doneva, a judge at the Burgas District Court, focused on restoring public trust by demanding transparent personnel procedures, measurable competition criteria, and genuine accountability for judges. She proposed that career advancement weigh the quality and outcomes of judicial work more heavily, and that competition panels provide clear reasoning for scores and comparisons.
Her proposals also include abolishing external competitions for initial appointments to regional courts and creating a mechanism for recalling administrative heads. While Doneva’s ideas are confirmed by her statements, the specific mechanisms she suggests are yet unconfirmed by any legislative body.
The General Assembly elected new SJC members from the judges’ professional quota, and both candidates expressed a commitment to use their experience for the judiciary’s betterment. Whether their reform agendas will be adopted by the council remains to be seen.
