The Constitutional Court of Slovakia has been operating without a judge for one year and seven months following Judge Jana Laššáková’s resignation in September 2023.[1] This prolonged vacancy raises concerns about the Court’s ability to operate effectively and uphold its constitutional duties. While the other 12 judges, especially the President of the Court, have been taking on more work to compensate for the vacancy, this situation is unsustainable in the long run.
In Slovakia,
the appointment of a new judge to the Constitutional Court is a two-step
process: Parliament selects a candidate, and the President makes the final appointment.
However, this process has stalled at the initial stage.
During this parliamentary term, three selection rounds have taken place—all
unsuccessful. In the first round, five candidates were proposed, but none
received the required 90 votes (a simple majority in the repeat vote). The
second round saw just one candidate, who failed to gain sufficient support. The
ruling coalition has yet to explain why it has been unable or unwilling to
nominate a suitable candidate.
