Judges' pension guarantees are changing: why this threatens the independence of the courts

In her column, the speaker judge of the Northern Appeal Economic Court, Marina Barsuk, notes that lifetime maintenance for judges is not a privilege but a guarantee of their independence. She explains that judges do not receive regular pensions and salaries, but only judicial remuneration and lifetime maintenance under certain conditions and restrictions.

"When society discusses lifetime monetary maintenance for judges, the conversation quickly boils down to arithmetic: how much they receive and how it looks against the backdrop of the average pension. But in these calculations, the main point is lost – judges do not have pensions and salaries in the usual sense. There is judicial remuneration and lifetime maintenance – payment for status, responsibility, and strict restrictions that come with the robe," Barsuk states.

An important element of the system is the consistency of rules ensuring judges, which is essential to strengthen the quality of justice and maintain independence in the judicial system.