The judiciary remained in transition, with a process of reform under way. Appointments to the highest levels of the judiciary have been irregular and ninety per cent of the judges in Venezuela lack security of tenure.
The judiciary required extensive reform. President Putin has announced a commitment to such reforms, but they had yet to be implemented. Many judges did not function independently and corruption and bribery remained rampant.
A prosecution, with possible political overtones, was undertaken against the Chief Justice of Gibraltar for a minor traffic violation.
The outbreak of a new wave of killings by ETA, the Basque armed separatist group, has led to increased pressure from public opinion on Judges and Magistrates in cases concerning ETA members or activists whose activities have been imputed to them.
The judiciary acts confidently and independently. However, judicial independence is threatened through public attacks and non-provision of resources by the executive.
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