Judges must remain resistant to pressure and loyal only to conscience and the law, because the court is the last line of defense of a free society, said Supreme Court President Valentina Pavličić.
She made the remarks at the online High-Level Forum on Democracy and Judicial Independence, organized by the European Law Institute (ELI).
The Supreme Court announced that the meeting, which brought together representatives of supreme and constitutional courts, European legal institutions and ministries of justice, discussed key documents - the ELI Charter on the Fundamental Constitutional Principles of European Democracy and ELI-Mount Scopus - European standards of judicial independence.
Pavličić emphasized that the forum was held at a time when the values of justice, the rule of law, and institutional integrity were seriously put to the test in many regions.
"Our shared responsibility to strengthen judicial cooperation, transparency and independence has never been more important," Pavličić stressed.
She said that Montenegro, as a candidate country for membership in the European Union, strongly supports dialogue on key topics such as judicial independence.
As Pavličić pointed out, the judiciary must not only be independent and impartial, but also efficient, accountable and accessible to every citizen.
She added that these goals require constant effort and reforms to which Montenegro is committed.
Pavličić said that it is the task of everyone in the judiciary to protect the law not only when it is beneficial, but also when it is binding, applying it as a living mechanism that leads to fairness, equality and social progress.
She stated that she is convinced that the forum will serve as inspiration for further progress in the judiciary in Montenegro and the strengthening of democratic values in Europe.
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