District court judge disciplined by Supreme Constitutional Judicial Council

The Supreme Constitutional Judicial Council of Cyprus has unanimously rejected an appeal filed by district court judge H.M., upholding her disciplinary conviction. The judge was sentenced to a formal reprimand, which is to be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic. The case originated from a disciplinary indictment that initially included six charges, three of which related to alleged inappropriate conduct that could have resulted in her dismissal.

The disciplinary proceedings were sparked by a decision issued on May 29, 2025, by the Cyprus Court of Appeal. The appellate body unanimously identified several legal errors in a ruling made by H.M. while she was serving at the Paphos District Court. On April 8, 2025, during a criminal case involving charges of conspiracy, theft, and possession of explosives, the judge rejected the prosecution's request to keep the accused in custody, instead scheduling the trial for March 20, 2026. The Court of Appeal found that the judge violated Article 48 of the Criminal Procedure Law by failing to properly determine the scope and duration of the requested detention, prompting the state to appeal the decision.

Following the appellate ruling, internal disciplinary charges were formed against the judge. Despite her appeal to the Supreme Constitutional Judicial Council, the council confirmed the disciplinary findings, effectively finalizing the sanction of a published reprimand.