The annual report of the CSM for 2024, presented in parliament today, indicates an increase of 22 disciplinary actions compared to the previous year, which saw 37 conducted.
Last year, 16 disciplinary proceedings were initiated, along with five inquiries and 38 investigations, resulting in 14 sanctions (up from six in 2023): one dismissal, four suspensions, two suspensions with additional transfer penalties, two fines, two recorded warnings, and three unrecorded warnings.
With respect to disciplinary matters, the CSM received one challenge to its decisions in 2024. In total, 15 challenges reached the Supreme Court of Justice (the higher court with authority over the decisions of the judicial management and discipline body).
Among these, three concerned evaluation classification decisions, while others related to contests, travel allowances, absences, vacations, and licenses.
In 2024, the number of judge inspections increased by 49%, rising from 191 in 2023 to 285 last year.
“In the year under review, 233 inspections had classifications approved, 12 led to complaints to the Standing Committee, and two to the Plenary Council,” the report states, noting that among the approved classifications, about half (103) received the highest rating of Very Good.
Among the lower classifications, there were two ratings of Poor and seven of Sufficient.
In its interaction with the public, the CSM received a total of 31 requests for expedited proceedings in 2024, of which 12 were granted.
Of the 654 citizen inquiries received by the CSM in 2024, “about half stem from citizen disagreements with judicial decisions in their respective cases, a matter over which the CSM has no intervention authority,” while others related to procedural delays, complaints about court operations, acts of staff or judges, and other judiciary-related topics, such as prison conditions.
“In 2024, four inquiries led to the opening of summary investigations,” the CSM noted in the annual report.
Regarding the judges’ roster, the report highlights a “more pronounced decline in the last five years” in 2024, with 1,716 judges in active service, fewer than the 1,739 in 2023.
In 2024, 57 magistrates retired, along with one resignation, four deaths, and one voluntary exit from duties, totaling 63 departures from the judicial magistracy.
Last year, 138 judges were on commission service, 61 of which were granted or renewed in 2024.
