In his remarks at the official ceremony on the occasion of the 64^th anniversary of the Turkish Constitutional Court and the swearing-in ceremony, President of the Constitutional Court, Mr. Kadir Özkaya, stated: “In its judgments rendered ‘on behalf of the Turkish Nation’, the Court not only settles legal disputes but also adopts a holistic approach based on an integrated consideration of national and international human rights standards, in line with the principles of justice and equity.”

The official ceremony marking the Court’s 64^th anniversary and the swearing-in ceremony of Mr. Şaban Kazdal, who was elected as a member of the Constitutional Court, took place at the Grand Tribunal Hall. Among those attending the ceremony were President of the Republic of Türkiye Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Mr. Numan Kurtulmuş, Vice-President of the Republic of Türkiye Mr. Cevdet Yılmaz, as well as the presidents of the high courts, ministers and other guests.

In his remarks at the ceremony, President Özkaya stated that anniversary ceremonies serve as an opportunity to reflect on the Court’s historical legacy and its place within the constitutional order, whereas swearing-in ceremonies, as a manifestation of institutional continuity, provide an opportunity to reaffirm adherence to the constitutional order and the rule of law.

The Turkish Constitutional Court serves as a guarantor of the rule of law in practice

Noting that the establishment of the Court constitutes the historical expression of the transformation of the principle of the rule of law from an abstract ideal into an institutional guarantee, President Özkaya stated: “The Court goes beyond being a judicial body tasked with the review of norms; it is an institution that ensures the stability of the constitutional order, safeguards fundamental rights and freedoms, and serves as a guarantor of the rule of law in practice.”

President Özkaya, pointing to the institutional memory as one of the most important pillars of constitutional adjudication, stressed that the strength of the Court lies not only in its constitutional powers, but also in its accumulated jurisprudence, established principles, and tradition of constitutional interpretation. He also noted that the Court, through its judgments, does not merely resolve disputes but has evolved into an institution that interprets constitutional tenets and transmits them to future generations.

Legal rules acquire their true meaning only when they secure justice

President Özkaya, recalling that justice is not merely a legal concept but also a constitutive principle that determines the raison d’être, direction, and future of a civilisation, noted: “This intellectual legacy clearly demonstrates that justice is not only a legal instrument but also an indispensable foundation of social order and human dignity.” He further stated that legal rules acquire their true meaning only when they secure justice, and referred to the Turkish Constitutional Court as one of the core institutions upholding constitutional principles, strengthening legal stability, and reinforcing public confidence.

President Özkaya accordingly expressed: “As the members of the Constitutional Court, we continue to discharge our duties and responsibilities within the framework of the limits set by the Constitution, with utmost dedication and diligence, guided by the awareness that justice is the fundamental pillar that sustains the State, ensures individuals’ sense of security, and enables societal prosperity and development.” He stressed the Court’s firm commitment to carrying out its work in accordance with this approach.

Referring to the Court’s crucial role in ensuring the continuity and integrity of the constitutional order, in addition to its function as a judicial body within the Turkish constitutional system, President Özkaya emphasised that its core task is to secure the effective realisation of the supremacy and binding force of the Constitution.

In this context, he stated that the Court serves as a guarantor ensuring the highest protection of fundamental rights and freedoms within the constitutional order, and added: “In its judgments rendered ‘on behalf of the Turkish Nation’, the Court not only settles legal disputes but also adopts a holistic approach based on an integrated consideration of national and international human rights standards, in line with the principles of justice and equity.”

The Turkish Constitutional Court is an active constitutional actor shaping the future legal order

President Özkaya highlighted the significant body of jurisprudence developed by the Court, stating that more than 700,000 individual applications have been lodged since the introduction of the individual application mechanism, and that a substantial proportion of these applications have been adjudicated over a period of 14 years. He further noted that the high volume of applications may be seen, to some extent, as an indication of trust in the individual application mechanism.

He referred to the initiatives taken to ensure effective and timely adjudication of applications despite the increasing workload, noting that particular emphasis is placed on the more efficient use of technology in judicial processes, the development of artificial intelligence-supported analytical tools, the strengthening of digital application systems, and the implementation of practices aimed at expediting the processing of applications.

President Özkaya, highlighting the Court’s endeavour to utilise artificial intelligence for reading, summarising and classifying individual application forms by September 2026, stated: “We will not, under any circumstances, attribute any legal effect to the outputs generated by artificial intelligence. Such tools will be used by our rapporteur-judges solely at the preparatory stage, with the final legal assessment and decision remaining, as always, a matter for human reasoning and conscience.”

Describing constitutional justice as a distinctive institutional framework that simultaneously embodies both continuity and evolution, President Özkaya noted: “In conclusion, the Court is today an institution that carries the legacy of the past and, through international interaction, digital transformation and a rights-based approach, stands as an active constitutional actor contributing to the shaping of the legal order of the future.”

President Özkaya emphasised that judicial and prosecutorial offices cannot be confined to legal knowledge and experience alone, but require a strong moral stance, a profound sense of responsibility, and strict adherence to the principles of independence and impartiality. He further stressed that judges and prosecutors must be free from external influence or pressure, must remain impartial within the framework of the positive legal order, and must decide freely in accordance with the law and their conscience, while consistently prioritising reason and science. He also noted that there is no place for rhetoric, hostility, resentment or favouritism in the administration of justice.

Recalling the need to strictly refrain from ostentation, hypocrisy, unlawful gain and deception, President Özkaya noted: “Even a small amount of what is lawful should be pursued persistently whereas anything unlawful should be rejected even if offered gratuitously.” He further drew attention to the importance of the rights of others, stressing that those exercising judicial authority must bear both legal and moral responsibility.

The Turkish Constitutional Court has become an effective institutional actor on a global scale

President Özkaya stated that, through its strong ties with the international constitutional justice community and counterpart institutions, the Court has become an effective institutional actor not only at the national level but also on a global scale. Referring to activities in the field of international constitutional justice, he made the following remarks: “Constitutional justice today is shaped not only within national boundaries but also by universal legal norms and international jurisprudence. This reality makes cooperation between constitutional courts and supreme judicial bodies of different countries indispensable for strengthening the rule of law, enhancing the effective protection of individual rights, and fostering global justice.”

The most powerful weapon is peace, and the safest place for human life is where justice prevails

President Özkaya stated that the world is going through a highly challenging period, noting that wars, economic crises, inequalities in income distribution, and violations of international law have had severe consequences on a global scale. Drawing particular attention to the injustices taking place in many parts of the world, especially in Gaza, he stated that the existing international system, and in particular international judicial bodies, have proved insufficient in addressing these challenges. Stressing that a more just and inclusive international order has become a necessity, President Özkaya noted: “The greatest injustice is war. The most powerful weapon is peace. The safest place for human life is where justice prevails. Achieving peace requires the establishment of a fair, inclusive and effective multilateral system; this is not a matter of choice, but a shared responsibility towards future generations. We should leave to our children not conflict, but rights, peace, justice and hope.”

President Özkaya expressed his belief that the Turkish Constitutional Court, drawing on its institutional legacy, will move forward with greater confidence, and emphasised that it will contribute further to strengthening the constitutional order founded on the rule of law, fundamental rights and freedoms, and human dignity.

President Özkaya extended his congratulations to Mr. Şaban Kazdal on his election as a member of the Constitutional Court and conveyed his best wishes for every success in his new position.  

Following the remarks by President Özkaya, the ceremony proceeded with the presentation of the curriculum vitae of the newly-elected Member Şaban Kazdal, who then took the oath of office. Mr. Kazdal was vested with his robe by President Özkaya.

Click for the full text of the remarks delivered by President Kadir Özkaya.