Symposium: “The Foundations of a New Era of Administrative Justice in Slovakia in Practice”

To mark the 5th anniversary of the launch of activities related to the commencement of operations of the Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic in May 2021, a professional symposium titled “The Foundations of a New Era of Administrative Justice in Slovakia in Practice” was held on May 14, 2026, at the Moyzes Hall in Bratislava.

      Symposium titled “The Foundations of a New Era of Administrative Justice in Slovakia in Practice.” Photo © Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic.

Prominent figures from the Slovak and Czech legal communities accepted invitations to this professional event, including the President of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic, Ivan Fiačan; the President of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic, Josef Baxa; the Minister of Justice of the Slovak Republic, Boris Susko; the Chairwoman of the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, Marcela Kosová; the President of the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic, František Mozner; the President of the Supreme Administrative Court of the Czech Republic, Karel Šimka; the Public Defender of Rights, Róbert Dobrovodský; Judges of the Court of Justice of the European Union, Beatrix Ricziová and Miroslav Gavalec; judges of the Constitutional Court, judges of the Supreme Administrative Court, former Ministers of Justice, the Director of the Judicial Academy of the Slovak Republic, Peter Hulla, the presidents of administrative courts, representatives of professional chambers, deans of law schools, the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, and the Commissioner for Children.

Pavol Naď during his speech at the symposium “The Foundations of a New Era of Administrative Justice in Slovakia in Practice.” Photo © Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic.

Speech by Constitutional Court President Ivan Fiačan at the symposium. Photo © Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic.

Speech by the Minister of Justice Boris Susko at the symposium. Photo © Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic.

Speech by a Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union Miroslav Gavalec at the symposium. Photo © Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic.

The symposium opened with ceremonial speeches by Pavol Naď, President of the Supreme Administrative Court; Josef Baxa, First President of the Czech Supreme Administrative Court; Ivan Fiačan, President of the Constitutional Court; Boris Susko, Minister of Justice; and Miroslav Gavalec, Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union. They were followed by the first expert panel, featuring a presentation on the topic ‘The Cisleithanian model of judicial administration in the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic after the dissolution of the joint state’ during which Pavol Naď, Josef Baxa, and Karel Šimka reflected on the common historical roots of Czechoslovak administrative justice and some of its distinguishing features after 1993 in the legal systems of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. In the second expert panel, Supreme Administrative Court Judges Marián Trenčan, Elena Berthotyová, Petra Príbelská, and Michal Novotný summarized the Supreme Administrative Court’s case law from 2021 to April 2026, with a particular focus on disciplinary proceedings, cassation proceedings in financial matters, and asylum proceedings. Special attention was given to the Supreme Administrative Court’s efforts to unify case law. The data presented in the individual papers confirmed that, over the five years of its existence, the court has fulfilled the goal set at its inception: to create an independent and strong institution for administrative justice capable of competently adjudicating disputes between citizens and the state.

Three presidents of the supreme judicial institutions discussing during the first panel session. Photo © Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic.

Judges of the Supreme Administrative Court participating in the second expert panel. Photo © Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic.

“Administrative justice is a vital aspect of the rule of law and its fair, balanced, and constitutionally justifiable functioning. The legal-philosophical foundation of our system of administrative justice is inherent to democratic legal systems in Europe, which ensure justice and the protection of individual rights for everyone who seeks them. I consider it of the utmost importance, on behalf of the citizens, to demonstrate our readiness to protect the essence of the rule of law and our legal framework governing matters within it. We are obligated, within the limits of our authority, to protect those who turn to us so that the Slovak Republic will continue to be perceived as a dignified, just, and happy place to live. It was an honor for me in 2021 to be part of the events surrounding the establishment of the Supreme Administrative Court and to lead it for five years during its initial, very crucial phase of existence. I believe we have succeeded in creating a lasting and effective ‘home’ for judicial oversight of public administration,” stated Pavol Naď, President of the Supreme Administrative Court, at the conclusion of the event.

The Chairwoman of the Judicial Council Marcela Kosová at the symposium. Photo © Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic.

The President of the Supreme Court, František Mozner, and his Vice-President, Terézia Mecelová, at the symposium. Photo © Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic.

Former Minister of Justice Mária Kolíková at the symposium. Photo © Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic.