In the newspaper "Vremya" is published an interview with Kairat Mami on the ongoing work of the judiciary on the implementation of Plan of Nation

Within the framework of his interview "Steps to the rule of law," Chairman of the Supreme Court Mami Kairat Abdrazakovich told about the most significant changes in the judicial system within the framework of implementation of Plan of Nation "100 concrete steps - the modern state for everyone."

Particular attention is paid to the optimization of the court instances by way of transfer from a five -stage to a three-stage system of justice. The number of judges of the Supreme Court will grow twofold. In this regard, it has been conducting the work on the selection of worthy candidates for the highest judicial body of the country, which involves the entire judiciary of the country. In the Supreme Court acts Reserve Commission as well as staff groups.

It has been conducting work on amendments to existing legislation. In the Parliament is introduced several draft laws on the judicial system work. Among them, there are draft of the Constitutional Law "On amendments and additions to the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan" On judicial system and status of judges in the Republic of Kazakhstan "and a new draft law" On the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan. "

Chairman of the Supreme Court noted that any citizen can familiar with these changes on internet resource of the Supreme Court, and to make suggestions and comments on them. Representatives of non-governmental organizations can also take part in the discussion of these draft laws in the working groups in the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

K. Mami told about the upcoming reform of the Supreme Judicial Council (hereinafter - the SJC). It will be consists of constant members, according to position, the Chairman of the Supreme Court, the chairmen of the relevant specialized committees of the Senate and the Majilis of the Parliament, the Minister of Justice, Prosecutor General, Chairman of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption, respected legal scholars, including foreign experts and representatives of the Union of Judges. In this half of the SJC members will be the judicial community representatives.

In an interview presents issues on amendments to current legislation on pensions of judges. The Head of the State this year signed a Constitutional Law. The new law provides that the retired judges with experience of at least fifteen years, when reaching the pension age shall be paid monthly life annuity. It will be 50 percent of the salary for the last judge position. However, at present the working group on the rule of law prepared another proposal to raise the length of service of judges’ retirement to 20-25 years.

Chairman of the Supreme Court stressed that today the national court system demonstrated its high enough efficiency. This is clearly spoken by many international assessments and the results of public opinion polls. Thus, according to the Global Competitiveness Index following the results of 2015-2016 indices of Kazakhstan on the index "judicial independence" had been improved by 14 positions. Our country this year took 72nd place out of 140 countries (previous year: 86). Kazakhstan is ahead of such countries as Argentina, Italy, Spain, Russia, Turkey and others. This is a direct result of the policy pursued in the country for the judicial system development.

At the end of the interview Kairat Mami noted that "as a result of Plan of Nation courts work will rise to a new level. They will become more professional, responsive, transparent, accessible, fair and independent. It has been strengthening practical tools to improve the transparency of courts. For citizens it will mean only one thing - they can always go to court to protect their legitimate rights and get it in strict accordance with current legislation. "

Full article can be found here

http://www.time.kz/articles/ugol/2015/10/07/sagi-k-verhovenstvu-zakona