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JUDGE KRISTINEH MKOYAN: "REFUSING BRIBES COMES EASY"
Marine Madatyan
http://hetq.am/eng/special/13092/judge-kristineh-mkoyan-refusing-bribes-come s-easy.html
10:06, April 16, 2012
Kristineh Mkoyan is one of a rare breed of judges in Armenia. She
doesn't accept bribes from litigants.
Named the "Best Judge" in Armenia this year, Judge Mkoyan says she
has no difficulty refusing bribes when offered.
"I receive a relatively good salary, I wouldn't call it very high,
and I think that any rational person wouldn't take such risks."
Judge Mkoyan graduated from the Yerevan State University's Faculty of
Law in 1999. One day the Deputy Director called her into his office
and said that there was an opening for a judge's assistant at the
Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Administrative Court.
Mkoyan says that many at the school could only dream of such
advancement and believed that the only way to achieve it was through
nepotism or having a friend on the inside.
But the future judge had no such connections and made the grade
through constant study and gaining legal experience by working at
various organizations.
She worked at the Arabkir Court till 2003, first as a judge's assistant
and later as chief of staff.
Mkoyan was attracted to the judgeship by the picture she had received
of a judge's responsibilities while attending the university.
"It seemed to me that a judge is supposed to serve as an example for
all citizens, that everyone could learn something from him or her,"
Mkoyan says.
While she doesn't go into details about what type of judge she worked
for at the start, Mkoyan confesses that the experience was a rewarding
one. The newly graduated law student realized that she no longer wanted
to be a mere assistant but to hold the judge's gavel in her hand.
Her next career move up the ladder saw her working at the president's
office from 2003 to 2008 in the personnel department.
Later on, she transferred to the Department of Legal Affairs as
a socialist.
"It's funny in a way, but I believe that to be the best one mustn't
focus solely on advancement. I don't sit down and program who to be
and how. That's just who I am," Judge Mkoyan says.
In 2008, Mkoyan was appointed an Administrative Court judge.
She says that when ones conscience and the law work in tandem, what
results is a very beneficial mixture.
Judge Mkoyan confesses, however, that she has handed down decisions
that have gnawed at her conscience even while being lawful.
"You really have to control yourself," she calmly smiles. "For
instance, it's very taxing to have to adjudicate family related issues;
those between a mother and her son. The son has kicked the parents
out because he is cleverer than they are and has used the law to
his advantage."
When no laws have been violated, it's not within the purview of a
judge to evaluate the degree of cleverness of a citizen.
Mkoyan says that to make one remorseful before the law remains one
of the most difficult jobs she faces.
Named the "Best Judge" in Armenia this year, Judge Mkoyan says she
has no difficulty refusing bribes when offered.
"I receive a relatively good salary, I wouldn't call it very high,
and I think that any rational person wouldn't take such risks."
Judge Mkoyan graduated from the Yerevan State University's Faculty of
Law in 1999. One day the Deputy Director called her into his office
and said that there was an opening for a judge's assistant at the
Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Administrative Court.
Mkoyan says that many at the school could only dream of such
advancement and believed that the only way to achieve it was through
nepotism or having a friend on the inside.
But the future judge had no such connections and made the grade
through constant study and gaining legal experience by working at
various organizations.
She worked at the Arabkir Court till 2003, first as a judge's assistant
and later as chief of staff.
Mkoyan was attracted to the judgeship by the picture she had received
of a judge's responsibilities while attending the university.
"It seemed to me that a judge is supposed to serve as an example for
all citizens, that everyone could learn something from him or her,"
Mkoyan says.
While she doesn't go into details about what type of judge she worked
for at the start, Mkoyan confesses that the experience was a rewarding
one. The newly graduated law student realized that she no longer wanted
to be a mere assistant but to hold the judge's gavel in her hand.
Her next career move up the ladder saw her working at the president's
office from 2003 to 2008 in the personnel department.
Later on, she transferred to the Department of Legal Affairs as
a socialist.
"It's funny in a way, but I believe that to be the best one mustn't
focus solely on advancement. I don't sit down and program who to be
and how. That's just who I am," Judge Mkoyan says.
In 2008, Mkoyan was appointed an Administrative Court judge.
She says that when ones conscience and the law work in tandem, what
results is a very beneficial mixture.
Judge Mkoyan confesses, however, that she has handed down decisions
that have gnawed at her conscience even while being lawful.
"You really have to control yourself," she calmly smiles. "For
instance, it's very taxing to have to adjudicate family related issues;
those between a mother and her son. The son has kicked the parents
out because he is cleverer than they are and has used the law to
his advantage."
When no laws have been violated, it's not within the purview of a
judge to evaluate the degree of cleverness of a citizen.
Mkoyan says that to make one remorseful before the law remains one
of the most difficult jobs she faces.
Marine Madatyan
http://hetq.am/eng/special/13092/judge-kristineh-mkoyan-refusing-bribes-come s-easy.html
10:06, April 16, 2012
Kristineh Mkoyan is one of a rare breed of judges in Armenia. She
doesn't accept bribes from litigants.
Named the "Best Judge" in Armenia this year, Judge Mkoyan says she
has no difficulty refusing bribes when offered.
"I receive a relatively good salary, I wouldn't call it very high,
and I think that any rational person wouldn't take such risks."
Judge Mkoyan graduated from the Yerevan State University's Faculty of
Law in 1999. One day the Deputy Director called her into his office
and said that there was an opening for a judge's assistant at the
Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Administrative Court.
Mkoyan says that many at the school could only dream of such
advancement and believed that the only way to achieve it was through
nepotism or having a friend on the inside.
But the future judge had no such connections and made the grade
through constant study and gaining legal experience by working at
various organizations.
She worked at the Arabkir Court till 2003, first as a judge's assistant
and later as chief of staff.
Mkoyan was attracted to the judgeship by the picture she had received
of a judge's responsibilities while attending the university.
"It seemed to me that a judge is supposed to serve as an example for
all citizens, that everyone could learn something from him or her,"
Mkoyan says.
While she doesn't go into details about what type of judge she worked
for at the start, Mkoyan confesses that the experience was a rewarding
one. The newly graduated law student realized that she no longer wanted
to be a mere assistant but to hold the judge's gavel in her hand.
Her next career move up the ladder saw her working at the president's
office from 2003 to 2008 in the personnel department.
Later on, she transferred to the Department of Legal Affairs as
a socialist.
"It's funny in a way, but I believe that to be the best one mustn't
focus solely on advancement. I don't sit down and program who to be
and how. That's just who I am," Judge Mkoyan says.
In 2008, Mkoyan was appointed an Administrative Court judge.
She says that when ones conscience and the law work in tandem, what
results is a very beneficial mixture.
Judge Mkoyan confesses, however, that she has handed down decisions
that have gnawed at her conscience even while being lawful.
"You really have to control yourself," she calmly smiles. "For
instance, it's very taxing to have to adjudicate family related issues;
those between a mother and her son. The son has kicked the parents
out because he is cleverer than they are and has used the law to
his advantage."
When no laws have been violated, it's not within the purview of a
judge to evaluate the degree of cleverness of a citizen.
Mkoyan says that to make one remorseful before the law remains one
of the most difficult jobs she faces.
Named the "Best Judge" in Armenia this year, Judge Mkoyan says she
has no difficulty refusing bribes when offered.
"I receive a relatively good salary, I wouldn't call it very high,
and I think that any rational person wouldn't take such risks."
Judge Mkoyan graduated from the Yerevan State University's Faculty of
Law in 1999. One day the Deputy Director called her into his office
and said that there was an opening for a judge's assistant at the
Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Administrative Court.
Mkoyan says that many at the school could only dream of such
advancement and believed that the only way to achieve it was through
nepotism or having a friend on the inside.
But the future judge had no such connections and made the grade
through constant study and gaining legal experience by working at
various organizations.
She worked at the Arabkir Court till 2003, first as a judge's assistant
and later as chief of staff.
Mkoyan was attracted to the judgeship by the picture she had received
of a judge's responsibilities while attending the university.
"It seemed to me that a judge is supposed to serve as an example for
all citizens, that everyone could learn something from him or her,"
Mkoyan says.
While she doesn't go into details about what type of judge she worked
for at the start, Mkoyan confesses that the experience was a rewarding
one. The newly graduated law student realized that she no longer wanted
to be a mere assistant but to hold the judge's gavel in her hand.
Her next career move up the ladder saw her working at the president's
office from 2003 to 2008 in the personnel department.
Later on, she transferred to the Department of Legal Affairs as
a socialist.
"It's funny in a way, but I believe that to be the best one mustn't
focus solely on advancement. I don't sit down and program who to be
and how. That's just who I am," Judge Mkoyan says.
In 2008, Mkoyan was appointed an Administrative Court judge.
She says that when ones conscience and the law work in tandem, what
results is a very beneficial mixture.
Judge Mkoyan confesses, however, that she has handed down decisions
that have gnawed at her conscience even while being lawful.
"You really have to control yourself," she calmly smiles. "For
instance, it's very taxing to have to adjudicate family related issues;
those between a mother and her son. The son has kicked the parents
out because he is cleverer than they are and has used the law to
his advantage."
When no laws have been violated, it's not within the purview of a
judge to evaluate the degree of cleverness of a citizen.
Mkoyan says that to make one remorseful before the law remains one
of the most difficult jobs she faces.