The former minister of justice, Ilir Panda, has been appointed the new deputy chairman of the High Court. 

In the general meeting of judges of the High Court, Panda was elected as vice-chair with 25 votes. 

Ilir Panda was born in Tirana, on August 8, 1962. He graduated in law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Tirana in 1986, as well as completed several post-graduate qualifications organized by Albanian, European and United States institutions. Holds the scientific degree "Doctor". 

He has worked in several sectors of justice, starting in criminal prosecution bodies, in the Directorate of Codification in the Ministry of Justice, as a lawyer, as a lecturer in the School of Magistrates and in other institutions of higher education. He was Minister of Justice in 1999-2000 and Vice-Chairman of the High Council of Justice in 2003-2007. 

He has participated as an author in many working groups for the drafting and revision of legislation, for the drafting of commentaries, manuals, bulletins, as well as in important projects in the field of law. He is the author of many articles in the field of law in several scientific and professional magazines, as well as various translations. 

Mr. Panda has also been a Legal Advisor of the People's Advocate of the Republic of Albania, a local expert for UNICEF, the Council of Europe and other organizations. He was a member of the High Council of Justice of Albania, in the years 2002-2007, a member of the Accreditation Council of Higher Education Institutions, a member of the Governing Council of "Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania" and a member of the Sports Arbitration Council. 

With decree No. 11454, dated March 11, 2020, of the President of the Republic of Albania, he was appointed a member of the High Court.