Summary
Highlights
The judiciary power is exercised by independent and impartial courts on behalf of the Turkish nation. The constitution mandates judicial independence, prohibiting any authority or person from interfering, giving orders, or suggesting rulings to courts during ongoing cases.
Judges and prosecutors enjoy specific protections: they cannot be dismissed, retired prematurely before the mandatory age of 65 unless they wish to, or deprived of their rights if a court or position is abolished.
HSK is a judicial body responsible for personnel matters, not a High Court. It consists of 13 members with the Minister of Justice as the President. It functions in two chambers and only its decisions regarding the removal of judges and prosecutors from the profession are subject to judicial review.
Sayıştay performs financial audits on behalf of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. It audits central government budgets and social security institutions. Its members and president are elected by the Parliament, and it provides a general conformity notice on the budget.
Several executive and administrative actions, such as decisions by the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) regarding promotions, YSK decisions, and Revolutionary Laws, are immune from judicial review, along with certain parliamentary decisions.