Council advises president to dismiss judge convicted of bribery

Lithuania’s Judicial Council has advised the president to seek parliamentary approval to dismiss Court of Appeal judge Viktoras Kažys after his bribery conviction became final, LRT reported.

The council said Kažys had brought the judiciary into disrepute through his conduct. All 13 members who attended Thursday’s meeting supported the recommendation.

Kažys was acquitted of bribery by the Kaunas Regional Court, but the Lithuanian Court of Appeal found him guilty in September and fined him 12,500 euros.

Kažys asked the council not to decide on dismissal for bringing the judge’s name into disrepute and to defer a decision based on the Court of Appeal ruling until the Supreme Court makes its final decision. He said he would file a cassation appeal.