Council of the judiciary


In the European continental judicial tradition, the national councils of the judiciary are institutions on judicial administration that ensure the self-management of the judiciary and the effective delivery of justice, which are autonomous or independent of the executive and legislature.
At the European Union level, they are gathered in the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary.

''Role in the separation of powers''

There is ongoing debate about the constitutional position of judicial councils within systems of separated powers. While some scholars view them as instruments of judicial self-governance intended to protect courts from executive and legislative interference, others argue that councils may function as a distinct governing fourth branch institution with authority that is not fully contained within the traditional three-branch model of government.

National judicial councils in EU member states

Other national councils of the judiciary