The Supreme Court of Cyprus has rejected an appeal from former judge Doria Varoshiotou. This means she will not return to her job as a judge. The court made this decision on Friday. Five judges agreed with the decision. Three judges disagreed. This ruling confirms the earlier decision by the Supreme Judicial Council. They had decided to remove Ms. Varoshiotou. The case has raised questions about how judges are chosen. It also looked at how well judges do their jobs.
Ms. Varoshiotou lost her job because she did not become a permanent judge. She worked for two years as a test period. The Supreme Judicial Council checks judicial candidates. They found her work and behavior were not good enough. Reports from the Limassol District Court said she made "serious mistakes." One council member, Tasia Psara, said this could harm the court's reputation. Therefore, they did not make her a permanent judge.
Ms. Varoshiotou's lawyer, Achilleas Demetriades, will take the case to Europe. They will go to the European Court of Human Rights. Mr. Demetriades believes justice can be sought in other countries. He said, "The road to justice does not stop in Nicosia. It continues to Strasbourg." He thinks the European Court will check if human rights were violated.
The Supreme Court said judges must show they have enough knowledge. They also need good character. Ms. Varoshiotou knew about her test period. She agreed to the conditions. A letter on July 4, 2024, explained these terms.
The Thanasis Nicolaou case may have affected the decision. This case involved a death in 2005. The council found judicial errors in that case. They felt Ms. Varoshiotou's work was not good enough. This could have put the court's trust at risk. The Supreme Court supports the council's power. This shows they have a strict process for choosing judges. Ms. Varoshiotou cannot be a judge in Cyprus anymore. However, the case may now be reviewed in Europe. This could affect how judicial decisions are checked in the future.