The newly elected Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court became a justice of the court in April 2017. Before his election, he was a full-time professor at the Maribor Law School, a member of the International Court in the Hague, and a permanent arbitration judge at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce.

The Chief Justice is elected by the Constitutional Court justices using a secret ballot for a period of three years. The Constitutional Court consists of nine judges who are elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the President. The justices are limited to single terms that last nine years, according to the website of the Constitutional Court.

Because Jadranka Sovdat’s term as a Constitutional Court justice ends in December, the process of naming a new justice is currently underway. In response to President Borut Pahor’s call for candidates, Andraž Teršek, Saša Severin, and Boštjan Pintar have all formally filed their candidacies. However, Sever has already withdrawn his candidacy. On Tuesday, Pahor will begin talks with parliamentary groups regarding the candidate whose name he will submit to the National Assembly for the final vote.

Sovdat is currently among the candidates for the position of Human Rights Ombudsman.