PodcastTwo Court of Cassation judges test positive for coronavirus
Two judges of Turkey's Court of Cassation have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, daily Cumhuriyet reported on April 4. The situation has led to a panic among the other judges of the court due to concerns that they might have also contracted the virus during a recently held meeting in the Court of Cassation building in the capital Ankara.
Two members of Turkey's Court of Cassation, which is the last instance for reviewing verdicts given by courts of criminal and civil justice, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, daily Cumhuriyet reported on April 4.
The situation has led to a panic among the other members due to concerns that they might have also contracted the virus during a recently held meeting of the high court.
Pro-government businessman's brother-in-law becomes Court of Cassation headThe court held an election on March 24 to choose its new head – despite concerns about the coronavirus epidemic. Some 332 judges of the court cast their votes in the capital Ankara.
One of the judges infected with the disease was among those who participated in the meeting and also had his photo taken with other members.
Turkey confirmed its first confirmed coronavirus case early on March 11. Since then many precautions have been undertaken regarding the judiciary system, including delaying all non-emergency court hearings. An election which was set to take place on March 25 to choose the new head of the Council of State, highest administrative court in the country, was also postponed; however, the Court of Cassation chose to go ahead with its own election.
Following the election on March 24, the Court of Cassation Chief Public Prosecutor Mehmet Akarca replaced İsmail Rüştü Cirit, who retired over age limit.
Within just one week after this election, two judges tested positive for the virus.
Turkey’s coronavirus death toll hits 425, total cases 20,921