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Do you remember the moment you first realized you wanted to become a judge? What appealed to you about the role back then – and does it still apply today?

That realization came only once I started studying at the Faculty. No one in my extended family worked in law—let alone as a judge—so I didn’t have any professional role models to follow. My fascination with the judge’s robe, and with criminal law in general, was sparked by the lecturers at the time, who were judges from the Regional Court in Plzeň. Their passion for their work was downright contagious, and back then, I couldn’t seem to find any effective antibodies. Luckily for me! (laughs)

The Supreme Court rules on key legal issues. How do you cope with the awareness that your decisions can affect not only individuals but the interpretation of law across the entire country?

A sense of responsibility is naturally part of the role. At the Supreme Court, though, decisions that shape everyday legal practice—not only for lower court judges but also for prosecutors, police officers, and defense lawyers—are the result of collective work by the entire Criminal Law Division. It’s more of a “council of the wise” than the decision of an individual judge. Being a judge requires lifelong learning and the ability to defend your legal opinion, but also the humility to accept a different view when it better fits the specifics of a case. Personally, I always try to ensure my rulings are not only legally sound and aligned with applicable regulations, but also understandable, concise, and practical for everyone who interacts with them.

Do you think the nature of judicial work has changed in recent years—due to technology, media pressure, or broader societal developments?

Changes have certainly occurred, as they have in every field. And not always for the better. A judge today is often less of a decision-maker and more of a case manager—responsible for preparing everything procedurally so a case can be properly heard. Just knowing the case file is no longer enough. You also have to coordinate a hearing date that suits all parties involved—which, in complex cases with more than ten lawyers, can be quite a feat. Then there’s arranging a suitably sized courtroom, organizing potential video links, ensuring that witnesses’ personal data remains confidential if necessary, keeping track of all deadlines... and the list goes on. On the other hand, technology is increasingly making its way into the justice system. Tools like videoconferencing can eliminate the need to escort people from prisons or from abroad. Speech-to-text software helps judges quickly transcribe dictated decisions. These advancements can significantly streamline our work.

Has being a judge influenced the way you see everyday life? Has it changed how you perceive justice outside the courtroom?

Absolutely. Criminal cases reflect the darker side of everyday life. Through what I’ve learned about human behavior from various cases, I’ve probably become a bit more of a warning voice—or even a nuisance—in the eyes of my teenage children. Professional experience has made me more sensitive to certain things. I also firmly believe that the principles we apply when seeking justice in the courtroom should apply in everyday life, without needing to be written into formal rules.

What other professional roles have you held, or are currently involved in?

Soon after I joined the judiciary, I looked for ways to apply what I’d learned and share my experience. I quickly found the right fit: over 23 years ago, I became a volunteer legal advisor at the White Circle of Safety. I’ve continued helping crime victims through that organization ever since. Direct contact with the real needs of victims—needs that often diverge from what institutions imagine they are—has been invaluable in my work as a judge. It’s kept me, as they say, grounded.

What surprised you most about studying law? Was there a subject that came surprisingly easy—or one you really struggled with?

Honestly, since I had no family background in law, I didn’t have any real expectations when I started law school—or at least none I can recall. But once I found my footing in this new world—even though I’m a native of Prague, I studied in Plzeň—I was struck by the diversity: of my classmates and of the approaches taken by individual lecturers. In the early, theory-heavy part of the program, I especially enjoyed anything related to history. Later, I became deeply interested in criminal law thanks to the engaging lectures—subjects like criminology, forensic medicine, and forensic psychology. On the flip side, I never really took to anything involving numbers: economics and related topics were never my cup of tea, and that hasn’t changed.

What skills or knowledge should today’s law students develop that previous generations may not have needed? And how can they prepare for that during their studies?

Modern technologies—including the use, and potential misuse, of artificial intelligence—are a major challenge for the future. Today’s lawyers should learn to work with these systems from the very start: to streamline administrative tasks, analyze case law, or search background materials. But this convenience shouldn’t come at the expense of critical thinking. In the near future, it may become increasingly difficult for judges and lawyers to determine which parts of a submission—an appeal, a statement, or a petition—were written by AI, which may fabricate content to meet a prompt, and which parts were genuinely authored by a human being.

In one word, what’s the greatest contribution your law school made to your career?

Thinking.

What do you remember most fondly from your time at the University of West Bohemia?

Definitely the friendships—many of which, to my surprise, have lasted more than 25 years. I deeply value them. I also appreciated the down-to-earth atmosphere, the emphasis on basic decency, common sense, listening to others, believing in yourself, and trusting your abilities. These were values I encountered throughout my studies and ones I try to carry with me—not just in my work, but in life in general. I still occasionally visit the university today, often for lectures and seminars.