Judges vote today to choose the members of the new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) from their own quota. One of the candidates, Stoyu Zigurov of the Sofia City Court, promised more dialogue in the council and faster competitions to promote and transfer judges.

"My decision to run is an act of duty, professional conscience and painful soul-searching," Zigurov told BTA.

He said that if anyone tries to take decisions behind the scenes or to pressure council members, he will respond at once and openly. He also wants more frequent meetings when urgent decisions are needed.

His priority is the independence of judges. For the competitions, he proposes changes to the secondary legislation: a fixed yearly calendar, a one-month limit for checking documents, and a faster, transparent draw to pick the selection panels.

He says long procedures leave courts without permanent judges, make them rely on seconded judges and hold back judges' careers.