Responsibility of Judges
All judges in Bulgaria, like other State functionaries, are responsible for their actions. This responsibility may be civil, criminal, or disciplinary, depending on the nature of their conduct. Such accountability ensures that judges act fairly, honestly, and according to the law.
Special Tribunals
In addition to ordinary law courts, the Principality has several special tribunals. These include:
Military Courts
Religious Courts
Consular Courts
Military Courts
The military courts handle all criminal offenses committed by persons serving in the active army. These cases may involve ordinary crimes or professional military offenses. The purpose of military courts is to maintain discipline and order within the armed forces Istanbul Tours.
Religious Courts
The Principality has courts for different religions:
Orthodox courts: These deal with marriage, divorce, and religious matters. They cannot decide property disputes between married couples, which remain under the authority of the ordinary courts.
Mahommedan courts: Also known as courts of the muftis, they handle personal and property matters for Muslims, including inheritance, marriage, and divorce, but only between persons of the same religion.
The decisions of religious courts are enforced by the bailiffs of the ordinary courts, who must first grant permission.
Consular Courts
Consular courts were established under Article 8, §2 of the Treaty of Berlin. They deal with civil and commercial disputes involving foreign citizens, except when the dispute concerns landed property, which is handled exclusively by Bulgarian courts.
While these courts were once necessary when Bulgaria’s judiciary was still developing, today they are considered an anomaly. Modern Bulgarian courts are well-organized and capable, providing justice and fairness to all parties, including foreigners. As a result, many foreign citizens now voluntarily renounce consular jurisdiction, preferring to bring their disputes before Bulgarian courts.
The Bulgarian judicial system balances ordinary courts, special tribunals, and the rule of law to ensure justice for all citizens. Over time, as the country’s courts became stronger, the need for foreign consular courts has decreased, reflecting the maturity and sovereignty of the Principality’s legal system.