By decision of 7 January 2014, the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) upheld the decision of the Administrative Court Sofia – City repealing the Sofia City Court President’s refusal to provide to Dorotheya Dachkova (journalist from “Sega” newspaper) information on the delayed criminal and civil cases decisions.
The President of the SCC refused access based on the grounds that the information sought had a preparatory character and has no significance in itself.
The first instance court, the Administrative Court Sofia – City, repealed the refusal with a decision no. 4010 of 14 June 2013 (in Bulgarian). The court held that the requested information has significance in itself, since the final decisions on disciplinary responsibility of judges are not issued by the president of the court. The judge noted that in past years the SCC had provided similar data. In this regard, the court stated that it is not consistent with the principle of equality that once access to the same information is free and in other cases is limited on the grounds that the information is preparatory in nature and has no significance in itself.
The Supreme Administrative Court held that the information sought is not related to the preparation of the court’s decision and has proper significance. It reflects the fulfillment of the judge’s duties on pronouncing court decisions and rulings within a reasonable time, which, together with the pronouncing of right court decisions and rulings guaranties good justice, i.e. the quality implementation of the provided by the state judicial power.