Perils of Judicial Self-Government in Transitional Societies

This book investigates the mechanisms of judicial control to determine an efficient methodology for independence and accountability.

David Kosa? (Author)

9781107112124, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 1 April 2016

488 pages, 6 b/w illus. 32 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.7 cm, 0.82 kg

'Kosa?'s thoroughly researched book is one of the most comprehensive accounts on judicial accountability written in comparative judicial scholarship, providing a solid basis for further discussions of this concept in academic circles. The book offers a springboard for future analyses on judicial accountability mechanisms and their operation, including their informal dimension, in the post-communist world and beyond.' Raul A. Sanches-Urribarri, I-CONnect (www.iconnectblog.com)

Judicial councils and other judicial self-government bodies have become a worldwide phenomenon. Democracies are increasingly turning to them to insulate the judiciary from the daily politics, enhance independence and ensure judicial accountability. This book investigates the different forms of accountability and the taxonomy of mechanisms of control to determine a best practice methodology. The author expertly provides a meticulous analysis, using over 800 case studies from the Czech and Slovak disciplinary courts from 1993 to 2010 and creates a systematic framework that can be applied to future cases.

Introduction
Part I. Judicial Accountability: Theoretical Framework: 1. The concept of judicial accountability
2. Mechanisms of judicial accountability
3. Judicial accountability and judicial councils
Part II. Holding Czech and Slovak Judges Accountable: 4. Prologue to the case studies: methodology and data reporting
5. The Czech Republic
6. Slovakia
7. Evaluation: the Czech Republic and Slovakia compared
Part III. Conclusions and Implications: 8. Judicial accountability and judicial councils: critical appraisal
Annexes.

Subject Areas: Constitutional & administrative law [LND], Judicial powers [LNAA1], Comparative law [LAM], Law [L]