Work together to defend the independence of justice, says Pavlopoulos to lawyers, judges
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Lawyers and judges have an obligation to respect and defend the independence of justice, President of the Republic Prokopios Pavlopoulos said on Friday, addressing the 14th National Congress of Bar Associations in the northern city of Serres.
- “The real lawyer, who honors his mission, must consistently apply the principle of respecting the independent nature of justices,” Pavlopoulos said. “A lawyer ought to respect a judge who metes out justice rightly,” he added.
The president said that he had practiced law himself for forty years, acquiring a valuable experience that helped him carry out his duties as president.
He also said that lawyers had an obligation to “support a judge – someone who is worthy, not someone a lawyer likes – rise in the court ranks,” and avoid promoting someone on the basis of political positions or third-party interests. Lawyers and judges must work together and with determination to protect their institutional independence, which is established by the constitution, he said.
- Addressing judges and bar associations, Pavlopoulos said they themselves had to defend their independence and called on them to make their decisions based on their obligations to justice, not influenced by political changes.
Pavlopoulos also referred to statesman and New Democracy founder Constantine Karamanlis, who was born and raised in the region of Serres, as a leading example of a lawyer who served his country. He called him “a visionary leader, one who thinks of his country, has ideals, is not influenced by populism, leads his people in the right direction whatever the objections, and does not worry about political cost.”The congress included among its participants Justice Ministry Secretary General Georgios Sarlis, party and regional district leaders, bar association presidents, mayors, deputies, and members of Greece’s highest courts.
Source: ANA-MPA
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