Judges of the district courts are appointed by the President. A candidate must be at least 25 years old, is expected to have received a higher legal education (commonly a "specialist degree"), have at least 5 years of experience in the legal profession, and pass an examination from the Ministry of Justice. A candidate for a position of a judge of garrison military court has to meet the same conditions as for a candidate for a position of a judge of district court. Initially, a candidate for a position of a judge of garrison military court had to have a military rank of commissioned officer, because judges of military courts were military personnel (although not subordinated to any military authority); however, since 30 June, 2009, when the amendments, contained in Federal Constitutional Law of 29 June, 2009, №3-FKZ, entered into force, judges of military courts are no longer military personnel and candidates are no longer necessary to have military rank of commissioned officer.