Expensive gifts for judges are wrong. Probably few would contradict this statement, but it is still not clear to the vice-president of the High Court in Prague, Stanislav Bernard. This is perhaps even worse than the fact that he paid a trip to the Euro 2016 football association from the Football Association of the Czech Republic. Former court president Jaroslav Bureš was also gifted. He doesn’t understand where the problem is either, but since he’s out of court, it’s a smaller topic. Fortunately, the current president of the High Court in Prague, Luboš Dörfl, and his colleagues see Bernard’s mistake as a mistake – and call on him to resign.
Well, let’s play for a moment that we don’t know that judges should be independent. And we will explain why the actions of both gentlemen are unacceptable. In the Czech democratic system, courts and judges have a privileged position. Their verdicts interfere with citizens’ rights, have the potential to restrict or strengthen freedom of speech, influence politics (remember the postponement of early elections in 2009), etc. That is why they have such a unique position, they are difficult to control, they have high salaries. Anything that may compromise their independence must be carefully considered. Under certain circumstances, a case may come to their desk where they could be accused of bias.
There are various very influential “clans” in the Czech Republic that intervene in all spheres of society. They are hunters, footballers but also CEZ. The Czechia is a small country, everyone here knows everyone a bit, especially those who decide something. Football is not just fun, it is also politics. Just look at the current trials that are currently underway (former chairman of the FA CR Miroslav Pelta is facing charges), donations received for “his” players by the President’s Chancellor Vratislav Mynář, to invite politicians to matches (eg YES MP Patrik Nacher). The football association simply cleverly creates an influence network.
When the News List came up with its important information, Bernard and Bureš did not understand where the problem was. Bureš told the editors: “Being a judge means that I should lock myself in a garage and not go anywhere? No. I took it as an appreciation of my work. ”A very suggestive question. Very stupid question. Like the “award” note. The judge would undoubtedly like to “appreciate” where anyone. Especially people who move on the edge of the law. If judges find the rewards offered to them by the state low, they should go elsewhere. Jaroslav Bureš does not have to be locked in the garage – if he does not want to – but he should travel on his own.
It is hopeful that the president of the court, Luboš Dörfl, sees the situation critically. He cannot dismiss Bernard, so it depends on the conscience of the vice-president. Perhaps one day it will be universally clear to everyone that it is simply not necessary to accept luxury gifts (whether they are handbags or trips abroad).
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