Slovakia Justice Ministry Proposes Law Allowing Experienced Lawyers to Become Judges

The Slovak Ministry of Justice has presented a draft law on judicial apprentices (justičných čakateľoch) that aims to restore the apprentice institution and modify the process for filling vacant judge positions. Under the proposal, experienced legal experts could apply for judgeships in exceptional cases where a vacancy cannot be filled by a judicial apprentice, instead of the usual open competition.

The draft has drawn criticism from the non‑governmental organization Via Iuris, which argues the law would create a significant barrier for seasoned lawyers, forcing them to abandon their current work and undergo a three‑year apprenticeship with no guarantee of appointment. In response, ministry spokesperson Alexandra Szakálová said the ministry “very thoroughly examines every comment” and maintains that it “does not create any barriers.” The law is slated to become effective on 1 July 2027.