This seminar takes place under the first main component of the project “Access to Justice and Legal Aid”. Most experts consider that training is the core issue in any process of change affecting well functioning institutions and good governance. A complete training, balanced and plural, is a prerequisite if the Judiciary wants to be respected and worthy of respect. The title of this seminar “Judges and access to justice” was agreed during the Working Group meetings held on this component. In particular, this session is focused on the relevant role that judges have to play in the proper functioning of the judiciary and, consequently, in the position they hold to guarantee an adequate access to justice for citizens. We cannot forget that the judge is the person in charge of the ultimate decision over life, freedom, rights, duties and property of citizens. In this respect, the different subtopics will enable us to carry out an in-depth analysis of several relevant aspects which are directly linked with the judge as one of the main players in charge of guaranteeing access to justice for citizens.  Through an in-depth and detailed discussion, we will know the current situation related to the topics under discussion, among others: selection and appointment of judges according to the international legal framework, governing body of the judiciary, ethics and deontology of judges and international approach to the disciplinary systems, all of them being main subtopics to be discussed.