Principles of ethics that the members of judiciary must respect are frequently emphasized in basic instruments of international institutions and organisations about judiciary and in recommendations.

UN Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct were adopted with Decision No. 315 dated 27/06/2006 of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors and Budapest Guidelines that establish principles of ethics for prosecutors were adopted with Decision No. 424 dated 10/10/2006.

The establishment of codes of ethics for the members of judiciary was cited as one of the objectives in the Tenth Development Plan (2014-2018) enacted by the Council of Ministers and ratified by the Grand National Assembly and also in the Judicial Reform Strategy. The goal to carry out works for establishment of professional ethics codes in order to increase the trust in judiciary was included in Council of Judges and Prosecutors 2012-2016 Strategic Plan.

It is considered that if demanded, giving guiding recommendations and delivering opinions to the members of the judiciary having ethics problems before the disciplinary liability arises is also a responsibility of the Council originated from its founding purpose.

Within the framework of IPA, “the Project on the Strengthening of Judicial Ethics in Türkiye” of which the CJP is the main beneficiary was conducted.

Within this scope, “Declaration of Ethics for Turkish Judiciary” which on the one hand complies with international standards and on the other hand drafted in line with the needs of Turkish judicial system on the basis of our own values and by protecting our heritage in the history of judiciary with the broad participation of especially judges and prosecutors, academicians, bar associations, related state institutions and organizations, non-governmental organizations and the representatives of media was adopted by the Plenary of CJP on 06/03/2019 and presented to the public.

The Declaration was published in the Official Gazette on 14/03/2019 and was notified to all judges and prosecutors who are included in the scope of the Declaration.

The duties of the bureau of Judicial Ethics that continues its activities within the Secretariat General of our Council are as follows:

1. To establish the principles of ethical conduct that the judges and prosecutors should respect and to monitor if they do so;
2. To receive demands, to make preparations such as reporting and preparing presentations in order to give recommendations of the Council on the issues communicated by the members of the judiciary and to give counselling;
3. To carry out and have carried out works in order to put in place the culture of ethics in the judiciary, to support all the works conducted in line with this objective, to conduct operations and secretarial works.