MOSCOW, February 14 - RAPSI. Only 144 of 66,000 lawyers have filed applications to become a judge in the past two years. Moreover, only 40 qualified for the position, Supreme Court Chairman Vyacheslav Lebedev said at a judicial meeting on Tuesday in Moscow.

He also called on lawyers to apply to become a judge.

Meanwhile, only three out of 7,000 notary offices applied for the position in 2011. Two qualified.

According to statistics, prosecutors are also reluctant to become a judge. Only 573 of 45,000 prosecutors applied for the position during the same period. Every third applicant was dismissed.

Meanwhile, only 171 of 21,000 investigators filed for the position. Thirty-six percent were denied.