Addis Ababa: The House of People's Representatives (HPR) has approved today the appointment of 16 Supreme Court judges and referred two draft bills to the relevant standing committee. Government Whip Tesfaye Beljige said on the occasion that the government has been undertaking various activities to improve the justice system based on complaints of the public. Accordingly, priority has been given to respond to demands in justice by improving the judicial system establishing transparent, free, independent, accessible, and efficient justice system, he added. Today's appointment is part of that reform, Tesfaye pointed out. The government whip revealed that more judges have been recruited to match the increasing load of cases in the Supreme Court. The appointment of the judges was conducted based on educational qualification, experience, ethics, knowledge and competence as well as acceptance in the society, according to Tesfaye. The HPR unanimously approved the appointments. Moreover, the House has referred the bills proposed to determine the awarding of Ethiopian medals, awards, public holidays, and celebration of holidays to the relevant standing committee. It has also approved the draft regulation of personnel management of the Ethiopian Media Authority. Source: Ethiopian News Agency