A procedural objection has delayed a key hearing at the Supreme Constitutional Court, which convened as the Secondary Judicial Review Council (ΑΔΔΣ), to examine an appeal by Doria Varosiotou regarding the termination of her appointment as a district judge.
The case opened with defence lawyer Achilleas Demetriades raising concerns about the court’s composition, stating that three judges currently sitting on the Constitutional Court were formerly members of the transitional council involved in Varosiotou’s case. “This composition is flawed,” he argued, calling it a “structural issue” resulting from judicial reform. “Some judges now on the bench were previously on the council and are now being asked to rule on the same matter in a different capacity,” he said.
In response, the Court President questioned why the objection targeted three members instead of all five, as the full bench had been involved in Varosiotou’s appointment. Demetriades clarified that two of the five had been excluded, prompting the President to state that the issue concerns not only those who conducted interviews, but all participants.
Demetriades named three members — President Liatsos, Judge Santis, and Judge Oikonomou — and further argued that the Judicial Council’s failure to provide a written warning constituted a critical flaw in the dismissal process.
After a brief recess, the Court ruled that it could not proceed with substantive deliberations at this stage. Both the preliminary request and the main objection will remain pending, with a decision expected in September.
Varosiotou had been appointed as a temporary district judge on 1 July 2023, but the Supreme Judicial Council (ΑΔΣ) decided not to make her appointment permanent, concluding she did not meet the required criteria. Her term was therefore terminated.
On 23 July, the ΑΔΔΣ rejected a separate request by Varosiotou to be reinstated, ruling that issuing a suspension order at that stage would prejudge the outcome of her appeal — something the court found procedurally impermissible.
Both sides have now submitted extensive written arguments to the ΑΔΔΣ, where the matter remains under consideration.
Notably, Doria Varosiotou was the judge who issued a landmark finding in the Thanasis Nikolaou case, concluding — based on scientific evidence — that the 26-year-old conscript had been murdered, contrary to initial claims of suicide.
Also read: Court reviews Doria Varosiotou’s dismissal appeal today
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