In December 2024, two online discussions brought together experts, legal practitioners, and civil society to discuss pressing issues in Georgia’s judicial system.

On December 20, the Group of Independent Lawyers and Democracy Index – Georgia, with support from the USAID Rule of Law Program, organized a discussion on the Georgian courts’ response to the political capture of democratic institutions. Experts from Hungary, Poland, and Romania, representing the International Network of Judicial Reformers, shared insights into their countries' experiences with judicial independence amid democratic backslidings. Key topics included judicial resistance to political influence, the challenges individual judges face in maintaining independence, and the vital role of civil society in supporting the judiciary.

Eka Beselia, former Georgian MP and Head of the House of Justice, highlighted Georgian courts’ handling of politically sensitive cases, including electoral disputes and ongoing litigation related to pro-European rallies. Contributions from Zoltan Fleck, a Hungarian Professor of Law, and Marcin Wolny, a Polish attorney, underscored the importance of civil society, and international advocacy in preserving judicial independence. Dr. Dragoș Călin, a Romanian judge, discussed controversies surrounding the Romanian Constitutional Court’s annulment of presidential election results due to alleged Russian interference.

On December 26, a separate discussion explored lessons Georgia could learn from Albania’s judicial vetting system. The event featured Helena Papa, an international expert and former member of Albania's Council of Justice; Manjola Xhaxho, a judge at the District Court of Tirana, Albania; and Vakhtang Khmaladze, a Georgian expert in constitutional law. Helena Papa provided an overview of Albania's judicial reform, focusing on the vetting procedures. She explained the three main pillars of the process: the appraisal of assets to detect inconsistencies or corruption, background checks to investigate integrity and links to organized crime, and proficiency assessments to ensure judges and prosecutors met professional standards.

Manjola Xhaxho and Helena Papa also discussed the broader outcomes of the vetting process, analyzing its successes and challenges. Vakhtang Khmaladze explored the potential implementation of a vetting process in Georgia, offering insights into how such reforms could be tailored to address the country’s specific challenges.

Both events, attended by 31 participants, provided an opportunity to reflect on judicial reform efforts across Europe and consider their relevance to Georgia.