Judicial Panel Rejects Request to Recuse Supreme Court Chief Justice
On August 9, 2024, the judicial panel in Administrative Case No. 7373 of 2024 dismissed the request of suspended BNB Deputy Governor Andrey Gyurov to remove the rapporteur and chairman of the Supreme Administrative Court, Georgi Cholakov. This announcement was made by the press center of the State Agency for Control (VAS).
The court found that Gyurov’s claims, which referenced public statements made by politician Hristo Ivanov, were based on subjective perceptions rather than objective circumstances that could raise doubts about Cholakov’s impartiality.
The ruling also clarifies that during the court vacation period from July 15 to September 1, most cases are not heard in open court. However, certain exceptions exist, including cases that require a swift resolution. In such cases, special “duty panels” are formed to handle the workload.
The Supreme Court explained that the assignment of cases to duty panels during the vacation period is done randomly among the available judges, following a predetermined order established by the court president. This practice ensures fairness and impartiality in the judicial process.