A/HRC/38/38 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Contents Page I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 II. Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 3 III. Legal standards.............................................................................................................................. 5 A. International standards .......................................................................................................... 5 B. Regional standards ................................................................................................................ 5 Judicial councils: general principles .............................................................................................. 7 A. Definition .............................................................................................................................. 7 B. General mission .................................................................................................................... 8 C. Establishment ........................................................................................................................ 8 Duties and responsibilities of judicial councils ............................................................................. 9 IV. V. A. Selection, appointment and promotion of judges .................................................................. 10 B. Court administration and budget control .............................................................................. 11 C. Disciplinary proceedings and accountability ........................................................................ 12 VI. Composition of judicial councils ................................................................................................... 13 VII. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................... 16 VIII. Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 17 List of respondents ........................................................................................................................ 20 Annex 2