N11.T5 – Basic Court in Nikšić Resolves Over 99% of Incoming Cases in 2025
HRA NEWSLETTER 11 – TOPIC 5
The Basic Court in Nikšić has emerged as a positive example of how effective management and dedication can yield results. In the first half of 2025, the court resolved more than 99% of incoming cases.
“This achievement was made possible by the exceptional dedication of judges and staff, continuous monitoring of case duration at judicial department meetings, and measures aimed at ensuring efficiency across all areas of work, with the goal of safeguarding the right to trial within a reasonable time,” said Court President Sanja Nikić.
Compared to the same period last year, the court improved its clearance rate by about five percent, despite operating with fewer judges than prescribed—12 instead of the 15 set out in the staffing plan.
According to Judicial Council data from July, basic courts across Montenegro face significant shortages: 17 judges in the north, 12 in the south, and 8 in the central region. A March call for applications resulted in the selection of 15 candidates, but vacancies in Nikšić are unlikely to be filled before May or June 2026.
The court also reported strong progress in reducing its overall caseload. Of 5,312 pending cases of all types, 2,690 were resolved, representing 50.72%. Appeals succeeded in only 73 cases, or 18.53% of all appealed decisions.
Efforts to address older cases also showed results. “As of June 30, 2024, there were 320 unresolved cases older than three years, while by the same date in 2025 that number had dropped to 274—a reduction of 46 cases—demonstrating additional efforts in tackling long-standing cases,” the court reported.
The latest CEPEJ report of the Council of Europe highlighted inefficiency across Montenegro’s judiciary in 2022, with first-instance courts recording particularly long resolution times—an average of 239 days for civil and commercial disputes. Against this backdrop, the performance of the Nikšić Basic Court stands out.
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