Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct for Judges announced

At the ceremony for the issuance on September 21, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court Nguyen Hoa Binh said judges, who are appointed by the State President to exercise the judicial power on behalf of the State, have a noble mission and heavy tasks. Therefore, they must be the symbol of ethics, adhere to the Constitution’s principles on judicial activities, and perform their tasks in an impartial, objective and rule-based manner.

He emphasised that the issuance of the Code aims to meet the requirements of the country’s judicial reform towards building a system of clean and strong people’s courts.

The Code comprises three chapters and 17 articles, and is applicable to judges at People’s Courts and Military Courts at all levels. It is recommended to be applied to judges who have retired or changed jobs.

The Code serves as the foundation for the national council for selection and supervision of judges to monitor and assess the professional ethics and conduct of judges.

The Code requires judges to first of all be loyal to the State and the Constitution, and to have good morality, firm political ideology, and resolve to protect justice.

It devotes one chapter to stipulate in detail the professional ethics of judges, including independence at work, integrity, honesty and straightforwardness. Judges must not use their position to seek interests for themselves or for others. They must not let their family members or their subordinates demand for or receive money, assets and other interests from anyone in association with their work. They have to declare personal incomes in accordance with the law.

Judges must be impartial and objective, and perform their work base on evidence, arguments at court, and the law. They must refrain from making any remarks or comments at court, at meetings, in public or to the media which can influence the objective handling of lawsuits.

The code also requires judges to behave politely, cautiously and reasonably in any activity, and demonstrate patience and kindness towards persons concerned in a trial.