New supreme court judge sworn in

New supreme court judge Stalo Hadjiyianni-Christodoulou was sworn in on Tuesday at a special ceremony at the Presidential Palace pledging to work to resolve long-standing problems that lead to delays in the justice system.

Addressing the ceremony, President Nicos Anastasiades said the decision to appoint Hadjiyianni-Christodoulou was based on the excellent level of her legal training, the proven experience and expertise acquired during her successful and long-standing service and the ethics and integrity of her character as an officer of the judiciary.

“In this context, I am absolutely certain that, by performing her duties with the utmost conscientiousness and objectivity, she will contribute to safeguarding the independence, impartiality and honesty of the Judiciary, as well as the reputation of justice in our country,” he said.

Anastasiades said one of the main objectives of the government over the years was to introduce a series of reforms aimed at ensuring the swift and efficient delivery of justice.

He cited as examples the establishment of new courts, such as the Administrative Court and the Court of International Protection, with proposals for the establishment of the Commercial Court and the Maritime Court passed at the House.

He also praised the recent appointment of the anti-corruption authority and the efforts aimed at digitalising the courts and implementing an e-justice system

After thanking the President, the new supreme court justice said that her appointment marked the end of a 26-year course at all levels and jurisdictions, as well as a new beginning from the podium of the appellate administration of justice.

She pointed out that the tragic events unfolding in Ukraine are the product of a violation of international law from which Cyprus has suffered for decades.

And she made special reference to delays in the justice system that faces a long backlog of cases.

“This is mainly because justice is not administered within a reasonable period of time, as required by the Constitution, an element which is detrimental to the mission of any well-ruled state.

“The state bears substantial responsibility in this instance, as for years it has not sufficiently invested in the field of justice, an omission that the current government is trying to remedy with its judicial reform programme.

Finally, she said it is imperative to solve the ongoing issue of the housing of courts.

And she wished a speedy recovery to Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou, currently hospitalised in Athens after suffering an aneurism.