Council of State head slams top judicial officials for resigning from union

Council of State president Nikos Sakellariou on Thursday slammed two of the court’s vice presidents for resigning from the Union of Judges and Prosecutors following his recent controversial decision to suspend a plenary session that was considering appeals by TV channels against the constitutionality of a recent government auction for broadcasting permits.

Sakellariou's comments were made to the press after he and other high court presidents met with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the Maximos Mansion on Thursday.

In his comments, Sakellariou did not divulge a new date for the next plenary session, but noted that judicial officials could not be used as “a vehicle for satisfying political goals.”

Also speaking to the press on Thursday, Supreme Court head Vassiliki Thanou said that the Maximos meeting’s agenda related to issues such as judges’ salaries. There was no mention of the TV licenses issue at the meeting with Tsipras, Thanou added.