Artikel 117: Members of the judiciary; independence; resignation
- Members of the judiciary responsible for the administration of justice and the Procurator General at the Supreme Court shall be appointed for life by Royal Decree.
- Such persons shall cease to hold office on resignation or on attaining an age to be determined by Act of Parliament.
- In cases laid down by Act of Parliament such persons may be suspended or dismissed by a court that is part of the judiciary and designated by Act of Parliament.
- Their legal status shall in other respects be regulated by Act of Parliament.
Explanation
Please note: Only the Dutch-language version of the Constitution has legal effect.
Judges are independent because they are appointed for life and can only be dismissed
- at their own request, or
- upon reaching a certain age, or
- in special cases stipulated in the law, by a court designated by law.
This article guarantees the independence of the judge.
The law further regulates the rights and duties of judges.