At the General Assembly of Judges held on October 31, 2026, in the Sofia Event Center, candidates for the Supreme Judicial Council met to elect their representatives and elect a new composition for the body. Maria Terziyska, a deputy chair of the Varna Regional Court and a candidate for a Council seat, urged the council’s next terms to prioritize updating its secondary legislation that governs the status of court staff and court administration.
Terziyska said that an effectively functioning Supreme Judicial Council requires a clear vision of the body’s role and active participation from judges. She added that changes are essential to the ethical rules governing the conduct of Bulgarian magistrates amid increasingly frequent public calls for the professional integrity of certain judges and prosecutors to be examined.
“As a judge, I always strive to apply the law correctly and fairly and to observe the principles of ethical conduct for magistrates. I maintain that professional integrity is an essential and necessary part of quality justice,” Terziyska said.
She linked the need for updated rules on court staff status and administration to improving the effectiveness of the judicial system and rebuilding public trust. The candidate indicated that the reforms would clarify the status categories of court personnel, streamline administrative processes and introduce stricter compliance measures for judicial conduct.
While Terziyska’s remarks have been noted by the sitting Supreme Judicial Council, the council’s own officials have not yet confirmed any immediate policy changes. The Assembly has not yet adopted a schedule or committee for the proposed reforms, and further deliberations are expected in the next Council session.
