National Chamber of
Judicial Officers of Belgium
NKGB - CNHB

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  • Specific Characteristics of their Position
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• Enforcement of judgements
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  • Tariff Names - Abbreviations
  • All cases (excluding criminal cases) – Royal Decree of 30 November 1976
  • Criminal cases - Royal Decree
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Duties and Organs

Article 549 of the Belgian Judicial Code reads as follows: "All judicial officers collectively make up the National Chamber, which enjoys legal personality". It has around 520 members. The National Chamber was established by the Act of 5 July 1963, in order to standardise the working methods, tariffs, ethics and disciplinary procedures within the profession. The status of judicial officers was revised in 1992. The major changes related to the rules for access to the profession and the job description of judicial officers.

Duties

The duties of the National Chamber of Judicial Officers include monitoring the uniformity of discipline and ethical rules among its members and the implementation of the laws and regulations relating to judicial officers. Although the National Chamber issues recommendations and guidelines with binding force, only the Judicial District Chamber has the power to impose disciplinary sanctions (see further). It represents the interests of its members and represents them in all situations, specifically in dealings with public administrations, the academic world and other legal professions. By sending summary memoranda and organising symposiums, it ensures that judicial officers remain informed and receive permanent training, more specifically with regard to the complicated area of new legislation. Judicial Officers also become involved in the preparation of new legislative bills via the National Chamber. By arranging for default insurance, it ensures judicial officers' clients are protected financially. The National Chamber generally strives for a proper balance between the economic and social role of judicial officers by stressing the importance of reconciliation and settlement, as far as possible.

The Organs

The National Chamber of Judicial Officers is managed by a Permanent Council, which to some extent serves as the parliament of the profession. This Council is made up of as many members as there are judicial districts (26), based on one ordinary member and one substitute member, chosen by each Judicial District Chamber. The Permanent Council elects the Management Committee.