The Supreme Constitutional Court has turned down Doria Varosiotou’s appeal about her firing as a judge. Five out of eight judges agreed her dismissal was legal, while three disagreed and supported her.
The court explained that appointing a judge on probation doesn’t guarantee a permanent position. The Supreme Judicial Council has the authority to decide on permanency based on competence, behavior, and suitability. This decision isn’t a disciplinary action, and Ms. Varosiotou doesn’t have the legal right to challenge her appointment.
Ms. Varosiotou started as a probationary judge on July 1, 2023, and her non-permanency was decided in July 2025.
A minority of judges raised concerns about constitutionality and judicial independence. They argued that probationary appointments aren’t clearly mentioned in the Constitution or laws, and suggested a preliminary question be sent to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Ms. Varosiotou’s lawyer stated they will take the case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to review the decision regarding human rights.
