The Court of Appeals received 1.744 cases in the first nine months of this year, 173 cases more than in the same period last year, or 498 cases more than in 2023, when the court was adjudicating with a full composition of 12 judges and the court president.
"The results of the work of the Court of Appeal of Montenegro in the first nine months of this year unequivocally prove the dedication and commitment of the judges and the President of the Court of Appeal to the efficient and prompt performance of the judicial function in this court, regardless of all the challenges they face every day in their work," was the conclusion from the regular monthly meeting of the President of the Court, Mirjana Popović, with the Presidents of the Civil and Commercial and Criminal Departments of the Court of Appeal, Judges Danijela Vukčević and Vesna Moštrokol.
The meeting discussed the results of the work of the Court of Appeal for the first nine months of this year. The meeting of the court president with the department presidents is held every month, in accordance with the measures from the Work Plan of the Court of Appeal for 2025.
Popović recalled that in 2024, four judicial positions were vacant in the Court of Appeal - one third of the prescribed number of judges, that only one judicial position was filled with the election of a female judge in April, but that the fact that only nine judges and the court president still perform judicial functions in that court, despite the significant increase in the influx of cases, "and due to their dedicated, conscientious and dedicated work", does not affect the efficient and prompt performance of judicial functions in that court.
The report shows, as announced by the Court of Appeal, that as of October 1, 9,57 percent of cases remained unresolved, while the average duration of the procedure was 31,16 days, and ten decisions were overturned at the court level.
The records of the Case Law Department, which monitor constitutional appeals filed in relation to decisions of the Court of Appeal, also show that for the aforementioned reporting period, the Constitutional Court, according to the aforementioned records, issued 21 decisions on constitutional appeals filed in relation to decisions of the Court of Appeal in the criminal field (detention cases), of which only one was overturned, and in relation to the other 20 decisions of that court, the constitutional appeal was rejected as unfounded.
The data also shows, as announced, that the judges of the Court of Appeal are consistently implementing the measures from the Court's Work Plan for this year in the area of priority resolution of cases in which the procedure lasts longer than three years (according to the year of the initial act) - the so-called "red envelope cases", since 287 were resolved in the first nine months, and 59 cases remain in the work, with a constant influx of precisely these cases.
The interviewees noted that, in addition to vacant judicial positions, another factor that makes work more difficult is the fact that out of 13 systematized advisor positions in that court, eight are vacant, and out of 25 systematized clerk positions, three are vacant.
"The court president, however, emphasized that, although this fact is an organizational challenge on a daily basis and a definitely aggravating factor in the work of the court, thanks to the selfless professional efforts of court employees, all work is currently proceeding without a hitch," the statement reads.
It was also noted that since March, the courtroom of the Appellate Court has been ceded to the High Court in Podgorica every Monday.
"Finally, the president of the court pointed out that the achievement of good results of the work of the Court of Appeal of Montenegro in 2024, despite all the challenges in the work of this court, is clearly continuing, which only proves the joint maximum professional dedication and teamwork of the judges and president of the Court of Appeal, as well as the employees of this court, which lead to a common goal - transparent, responsible, efficient and timely work of this court," the statement reads.
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