Constitutional Court lifts judge ban for deaf and blind

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia’s Constitutional Court has declared as unconstitutional and invalid the government’s regulation that imposed an absolute ban on individuals who are deaf or blind from becoming judges, Panorama.am reports.

The court found that such restrictions violate the constitutional right of individuals with disabilities to hold public office and fail to meet the principle of proportionality. While the government has the authority to define medical criteria, the court emphasized the need for individualized assessment in such cases.

According to the ruling, a candidate’s eligibility for a judgeship should not be determined solely by disability status, but by their practical ability to perform judicial duties.

The decision is seen as a significant step forward in affirming the rights and ensuring equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Further legal commentary on the ruling is expected later.

The government regulation had previously imposed an absolute ban on individuals with total bilateral deafness or deaf-mutism and total bilateral blindness from serving as judges.