for judges in the legal system contains detailed regulations on the manner in which judges must
conduct their activities.
The Judiciary has also put in place a process for continuous assessment which allows for taking any
corrective or reformative action and legal measures necessary. The Federal Judicial Administration
Commission has the relevant powers and duties. These include: to select those who qualify as
judges in accordance with Article 8 of the Proclamation from among candidates nominated by
members of the Commission; to issue the Disciplinary and Code of Conduct Rules for federal
judges; to decide on the transfer, salary, allowance, promotion, medical benefits and placement of
federal judges; to examine and decide in accordance with Article79 (4) of the Constitution, matters
presented to it. The Commission may also suspend a judge though the decision must be approved
by the House of Peoples' Representatives, subject to details determined in the Disciplinary and Code
of Conduct Rules.
Judicial Administration Councils are established both at the federal and regional levels as
institutional mechanisms to assist in the independence of the judiciary. The Judicial Administration
Councils Proclamation (No.684/2010) clearly states that no person can simultaneously assume the
post of a judge while serving in the legislative or executive branches of government or while a
member of any political organization. The councils administer the appointment of judges, draft and
enforce disciplinary and code of conduct rules for judges, and decide on the transfer, salary,
allowance, promotion, medical benefits and placement of federal judges.
The Regional Courts
The regional governments are responsible for the establishment of State Supreme Courts, State High
Courts, and State First Instant Courts at regional levels. Until such time as the HPR establishes
federal high courts and federal first instance courts in a region, the constitution delegates the
exercise of powers of entrusted to federal high courts and federal first instant courts to the state
supreme courts and state high courts, respectively.
The Constitution also allows the establishment of customary and religious courts to adjudicate
disputes relating to personal and family laws in accordance with customary or religious laws with the
consent of all parties to the dispute. It enshrines provisions designed to guarantee the personal
independence of judges as well as institutional independence of the judiciary. Courts at any level
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