N16.T7 – The Special Department of the High Court in Podgorica Doubled the Number of Resolved Cases
HRA NEWSLETTER 16 – TOPIC 7
The Special Department of the High Court in Podgorica, which handles the most complex cases, received six new judges during 2025 and currently employs 14 judges in addition to the President of the Court. This has significantly facilitated the functioning of the department, which in 2025 rendered decisions in more than 70 cases—almost double the number from previous years. This was stated by the Deputy President of the High Court in Podgorica, Vesna Kovačević, in an interview with Vijesti.
According to statistical data, the percentage of resolved cases in relation to the inflow currently stands at 105.17%, excluding cases that have been completed but for which decisions have not yet been drafted or published. This, she noted, best demonstrates the efficient and professional work of the judges of the Special Department.
Kovačević stated that the improved efficiency was also the result of a new case allocation system.
“With the arrival of new judges, those who already work in the Special Department do not receive new cases, while cases that had not yet been initiated were, in accordance with the applicable rules, assigned to the newly appointed judges. Cases that had already been initiated remained with the judges who had previously handled them, thus ensuring continuity of work and procedural stability. Such an organizational model contributed to a more balanced distribution of workload.”
Kovačević also pointed out that none of the judges of the Special Department of the High Court in Podgorica have judicial advisers, even though their role is “extremely important for efficient work.”
In addition, she noted that most judges continue to handle “additional case portfolios” alongside special cases, which represents a serious challenge. She emphasized the need for systemic solutions to shortcomings, not only in terms of staffing, but also in the normative framework.
“Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code have still not been adopted, even though they have been recognized as necessary for further improving efficiency and adapting judicial practice to contemporary needs. Their absence means that courts continue to rely on existing procedural solutions, which to a certain extent make work on complex and extensive cases more difficult. In that sense, it can be said that their hands are tied until the necessary amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code are adopted.”
According to Kovačević, it is also necessary for the executive branch to improve spatial and technical working conditions, as this would contribute to further improvements in performance.
“Judges have no mechanisms to influence other branches of government or system bodies when it comes to improving working conditions, as our role is strictly limited to the application of the law and decision-making in individual cases,” Kovačević concluded.
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