Supreme Judicial Council dismissed judge Doria Varoshiotou after her two-year probationary period ended on Monday, marking a rare occurrence in the country’s judicial appointment process.
The decision means Varoshiotou will not receive permanent appointment to the Limassol District Court, where she had served since 1 July 2023.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, legal expert Achilles Emilianides said the dismissal represents “a completely negative evaluation” of Varoshiotou’s work and judicial conduct during the probationary period. However, he noted that the specific reasoning behind the Supreme Judicial Council’s decision remains unknown as the proceedings have not been made public.
“It is extremely rare for a judge not to receive permanent appointment,” Emilianides told the news agency. “This entails that the Supreme Judicial Council judged based on evidence before it.”
High-profile case involvement
The dismissal follows Varoshiotou’s involvement in several notable cases, including the third death inquest into Thanasis Nicolaou’s death.
Varoshiotou’s inquest concluded that Nicolaou was murdered by strangulation. The Supreme Court later negatively assessed her decision in this case during an appeal process.
Emilianides also referenced Varoshiotou’s disagreement with the Limassol District Court President over her handling of two other death inquests as publicly known matters relevant to her evaluation.
Legal options available
Varoshiotou can file an objection within ten working days before the Supreme Constitutional Court, which has authority to review the Supreme Judicial Council’s decision.
Should she wish to pursue the matter at the European Court of Human Rights, Emilianides explained she must first exhaust all domestic legal remedies.
The dismissal decision was made by the Supreme Judicial Council, comprising Supreme Court judges, based on their assessment of whether Varoshiotou demonstrated the necessary qualifications for permanent appointment during her probationary period.
“The decision not to grant permanent appointment means there was a completely negative assessment regarding the work this person produced and the manner in which they handled judicial duties,” Emilianides said.
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