The National Judicial Council (NJC) is a legal person with an independent budget governed by Act CLXI of 2011 on the Organisation and Administration of the Courts (Bszi.), which is responsible for supervising the central administration of the courts and for contributing to the administration of the courts.
Its tasks are specifically defined in the Bszi. More information on its activities area available in a separate menu section.
The NJC acts as a body and takes its decisions in this way. The minutes of all meetings, except those held in camera, are published on the NJC’s website, as are its decisions. The procedure for decision-making is laid down in the Bszi. and the Rules of Procedure of the NJC.
The National Judicial Council is composed of fifteen judges, one of whom is the President of the Curia, who is a member by virtue of his office, and fourteen members elected by secret ballot by the judges themselves for a term of six years. Elected members are not eligible for re-election. The elected members include one judge of the courts of appeals, six judges of the general courts and seven judges of the district courts, thus representing the different levels of jurisdiction.
The members perform their duties, to the extent provided for by law, in addition to their judicial duties.
The NJC held its first meeting on 24 March 2012. The term of office of the members of the panel expired in 2018 and new members were elected, whose term of office expired on 30 January 2024. The current composition of the NJC held its inaugural meeting on 30 January 2024.
The NJC elects a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson from among its members for a term of three years. The Chair and Vice-Chair are eligible for re-election.
The President of the National Office for the Judiciary, the Minister of Justice, the Attorney General, the President of the Hungarian Bar Association, the President of the Hungarian Chamber of Notaries participate in the meeting of the NJC with the right to deliberate. Consequently, the meetings of the NJC are also important forums for cooperation between the legal professions.
The administrative functions of the NJC are carried out by the Secretariat of the NJC.