HRA NEWSLETTER 13 – TOPIC 14

The Basic Court in Rožaje organized an Open Day on 24 October. This event has been held for the past two years. The central theme was peer violence, giving the youngest citizens an opportunity to learn about the court’s work and their legal rights.

During the event, President of the Court Mirsad Mujević met with representatives of local institutions, the prosecutor’s office, NGOs, and lawyers.

He highlighted the ongoing staffing challenges, following the end of the temporary assignment of Judge Milan Rajković from the High Court in Bijelo Polje on 20 October. Mujević is once again the sole judge at the Basic Court in Rožaje, handling a significant caseload. Despite these challenges, the court achieved strong results last year.

“The latest report by the Judicial Council indicates that judges at this court individually resolved just over a thousand cases, which averages around 90 cases per month. Considering there were only two judges, the court’s clearance rate of 105% is truly commendable,” said Amra Bajrović from HRA.

She also noted that two candidates are currently undergoing initial training and could become judges as early as March or April, if they meet all requirements.

The meeting also extended support to court administrative staff, with consensus that their salaries should be increased.

Representatives of the NGO Eduko Savant, Fikret Kuč and Senida Kalač, spoke about a project they implemented with the Municipality of Rožaje, providing free preparatory courses for judicial exams, aimed at encouraging young people to pursue a judicial career.

Lawyer Velija Murić, President of the Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights, emphasized the importance of judicial independence and court resilience against political pressure, noting that the Basic Court in Rožaje is a good example of transparency and openness.

“It is evident that the court is very transparent — nearly open — allowing any citizen to be fully informed, educated, and able to access their civil and judicial rights to the extent permitted by law,” Murić stated.

Velida Hodžić from NGO Ikre stressed that, despite staffing challenges, it is crucial that the Basic Court in Rožaje continues operating, as it plays a key role in ensuring citizens can exercise and protect their rights locally.

HRA urged the Judicial Council to appoint new judges as soon as possible or temporarily assign a judge to Rožaje again, to support the court’s work and guarantee timely access to justice for citizens.

HRA NEWSLETTER 13

• N13.T1 – The Constitutional Court Still Waiting for Judges – Parliament Fails to Elect Any of the Proposed Candidates
• N13.T2 – Draft Amendments to the Law on the Constitutional Court of Montenegro Prepared – New Retirement Conditions for Judges
• N13.T3 – Vesna Medenica Convicted Again – Sentenced to Prison
• N13.T4 – Miloš Medenica Released from Spuž Detention, Vesna Medenica from House Arrest
• N13.T5 – State Prosecutor Srđa Jovanović Sentenced to Prison for Abuse of Office
• N13.T6 – Defendants Acquitted in the “Tunnel” Case, Widespread Criticism of the Verdict
• N13.T7 – The Prosecutor’s Office Report under the Shadow of Political Pressure
• N13.T8 – What Is the Role of the Supreme State Prosecutor?
• N13.T9 – Proposed Candidates for the Prosecutorial Council: One Studied for 16 Years
• N13.T10 – Statute of Limitations and Dismissal of Criminal Complaints in Prosecution Offices and Courts – Inefficiency or Something More Serious?
• N13.T11 – Supreme Court Identified a Procedural Error by the Administrative Court – Case on the Prosecutorial Council’s Decision to Be Reconsidered
• N13.T12 – New Judicial Code of Ethics Adopted – Ilićković to Lead Oversight Commission
• N13.T13 – Process of Establishing the Special Court Begins
• N13.T14 – Basic Court in Rožaje Hosts Open Day: Addressing Peer Violence and Court Challenges
• N13.T15 – Two Unions, Two Approaches to Strikes in the Judiciary