The head of the National Judicial Office warns against attempts to put pressure on judiciary 

Budapest, February 2 (MTI) – The head of the National Judicial Office has called on “representatives of the other branches of state power to respect the independence of judges”.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Tünde Handó referred to critical remarks concerning such recent court rulings as the acquittal of all defendants in the case of Hungary’s 2010 red sludge disaster.

The criticism indicates that the concepts of independence and judges’ responsibility may not be evident, therefore the courts should consider feedback and make their workings more understandable, Handó said.

Handó quoted the constitution as stating that judges shall be independent, subordinated solely to the law, and shall not be instructed when making decisions.

“Pressure cannot be put on the courts,” Handó said.

Péter Darák, Hungary’s chief judge, has also warned of the dangers of politicians pressuring the courts if they do not like a ruling.

On Monday, Darák said in a statement that “Judges must be able to rule freely and without bias, and calling them to account … goes against the spirit of the constitution”.