Pavličić submitted the act to the Judicial Council after the revolt of judges at the Court of Appeals

The President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro, Valentina Pavličić, today submitted to the Judicial Council an act for further action and decision-making, regarding the complaint of judges and civil servants of the Court of Appeal of Montenegro, regarding the work of the President of that court, Mirjana Popović.

The act was drafted in accordance with the provisions of the Law on the Judicial Council and Judges, and after the procedure in which the allegations from the complaint were considered.

"The Supreme Court President's action followed at the request of the Judicial Council. After receiving the complaint, the Judicial Council asked the Supreme Court President to collect relevant information, conduct a comprehensive analysis of the allegations to determine the factual situation, and report to the Judicial Council," the Supreme Court said in a statement.

"Vijesti" confirmed to the Judicial Council that all members received sealed envelopes with the Pavličić document.

The President of the Supreme Court asked the judges and civil servants of the Court of Appeal to further specify the allegations and circumstances in the complaint, to the extent possible, in order to fully clarify the facts.

"The President of the Supreme Court has taken all necessary measures to ensure the lawful, stable and uninterrupted work of the Court of Appeal, in order to preserve the continuity and efficient functioning of the judicial system," the statement reads.

In early March, all judges of the Court of Appeal of Montenegro, as well as almost the entire administration, filed a complaint with the Judicial Council, requesting that the body take a position and initiate legal mechanisms due to, as they stated, the long-term inappropriate behavior and manner of work of the president of that court, Mirjana Popović.

The judges stated in the letter that, if the Judicial Council does not assume constitutional jurisdiction, they will be forced to take "all legally prescribed options."

The Judicial Council immediately considered the complaint, and then the members decided that the President of the Supreme Court Valentina Pavličić, after receiving the statement, should determine whether there are elements to initiate disciplinary liability or perhaps a proposal to dismiss Popović.

The President of the Court of Appeal, in a statement to "Vijesti", stated that she has a position on the intentions and motives of her colleagues' rebellion, especially considering the timing of when everything happened.

She stated that she was bothering someone inside and outside the judiciary, but also confirmed that she believed that behind the dissatisfaction of her colleagues "there may be other motives due to the decisions of the Court of Appeal in high-profile cases"...