Improving legal certainty, the rule of law and trials within a reasonable time remain priorities in judicial reform, said the President of the Supreme Court, Valentina Pavličić, stating that the support of international partners confirms that the reforms undertaken are valued on the global judicial scene.
At the invitation of the Head of the Judiciary of England and Wales, Baroness Sue Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, Pavličić attended the opening of the Judicial Year of England and Wales.
The Supreme Court announced that Pavličić had a series of bilateral meetings in London with the heads of the United Kingdom's judiciary, presidents of supreme courts, legal experts and senior officials.
"During which it received strong support for all the measures and initiatives it has undertaken at the national level to date with the aim of increasing the efficiency of the courts and restoring public trust in the Montenegrin judiciary," the statement said.
It is stated that it was emphasized that efficiency and citizen trust are the foundation for strengthening institutions and the progress of the state, which takes on special significance, bearing in mind the demanding path that awaits Montenegro in closing negotiation chapters 23 and 24.
At the meeting with Su Kar, Pavličić emphasized that, in order to strengthen citizens' trust and improve legal certainty, the rule of law and trials within a reasonable time remain priorities in the reform of the Montenegrin judiciary.
The Supreme Court said that more intensive cooperation was agreed through the mutual exchange of knowledge and best practices, which will contribute to the further strengthening of the judicial system of Montenegro in the process of European integration.
It is stated that Pavličić discussed strengthening public trust in the judiciary, through transparency in the work of the courts, with the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, Lord Reid, and that, at his invitation, she was a guest at a dinner he hosted with his closest associates.
"This event represents a special expression of appreciation for Montenegro and confirmation of the successful cooperation between the two highest courts, following the meeting between Pavličić and Rida in June in Podgorica," the statement said.
The Supreme Court said that in a conversation with Robin Knoules, a judge at the Permanent International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC), of which Montenegro became a member in March, it was agreed to intensify cooperation, primarily for the purpose of faster resolution of commercial disputes.
It is recalled that SIFoCC brings together 58 members from all over the world, with the aim of exchanging experiences and working together to improve practice in the field of commercial and business law.
Pavličić said that the support of international partners is a confirmation that the direction of the reforms she has undertaken, aimed at improving the work of the Montenegrin judiciary, has been recognized and valued on the global judicial scene.
The Supreme Court stated that, as part of the program to open the judicial year, a meeting was held with judges in charge of international relations, representatives of the Judicial College, as well as an international roundtable United Kingdom/Brazil, dedicated to the legal profession and the challenges of climate change.
"Discussions with international legal partners and institutions based in the United Kingdom were also organized, as well as visits to the Royal Court of Justice and the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, as well as meetings with the presidents and judges of the supreme courts of Canada, France, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Brunei, Sweden, the President of the European Court of Human Rights and the Vice-President of the Court of Justice of the European Union," the statement said.
Pavličić also attended the ceremonial service at Westminster Abbey, as well as a breakfast with Lord Chancellor David Lamy in the Westminster Hall of Parliament.
"The opening ceremony of the judicial year in England and Wales is one of the most significant events in the United Kingdom's legal calendar, with a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, when judges attended a service in Westminster Abbey at the beginning of the year," the statement said.
It is reported that around 700 guests were invited to attend the service and breakfast.
"Among them are senior judicial officials, members of the legal profession, government ministers, as well as international guests - presidents of supreme courts, judges and lawyers," the statement added.
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