Is the Resolution of the Minister of Justice to Abolish the Secrecy Clause Providing for Information Contained in a Judge’s Asset Declaration to Be Covered by an Administrative Decision?

Abstract

The article is an analysis of the judgments of administrative courts, which indicate that the power of the Minister of Justice to abolish the secrecy clause providing for information contained in a judge’s asset declaration constitutes an administrative decision. The abolition of the “restricted” secrecy clause in relation to the declaration of assets submitted by a judge cannot be treated as being carried out as part of the administrative supervision of the Minister of Justice over the courts. This is not typical professional pragmatics and the disputed act of the Minister does not concern a matter relating to the judge’s service relationship. The judge’s obligation to submit a declaration of assets is of a public law nature. The Minister’s competence is not a form of exercising by the Minister rights towards a judge resulting from the relationship between a superior and a subordinate, i.e. from the judge’s subordination to the Minister of Justice. Therefore, such a decision may be subject to judicial review due to the constitutionally protected values covered by the Minister’s act.