The Acting President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro, Vesna Vučković, said today at the press conference where the annual work report for 2023 was presented that as of December 31 of last year, this court was in operation. 4.994 cases, of which he resolved 3.123 cases, while 1.871 cases remained unresolved.
According to her, the efficiency rate in relation to the influx of cases is 92 percent.
"During the last year, 14 out of 19 judges held the position of judge in the Supreme Court, which means that the occupancy rate is 73,6%," stated Vučković.
Journalists were interested in when the new president of the Supreme Court will be elected, and how many judges are missing for this court to be functional.
Vučković stated that preparations are underway for the General Session at which the candidates for the head of the highest judicial instance will be interviewed, and that it will be held in the first half of May. She added that the Judicial Council of Montenegro determined the list of candidates, which was officially delivered to them yesterday at 14.30:XNUMX p.m.
"The general session where the interview would be held is being prepared and will be in the first half of May, due to the holidays," said Vučković. She reminded that a two-thirds majority is required, which is 13 votes, and that there are now 17 judges in the Supreme Court, as two more were elected this year.
When asked how many judges the Supreme Court needs to be fully functional, Vučković said that they have 17 career judges and that one exceptional judge is missing - who has 20 years of experience as a notary, public bailiff, professor at the university, as well as the president of the court.
"In cooperation with the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office of Montenegro, guidelines were drawn up for the implementation of the plea agreement, based on the Supreme Court's analysis of the criminal policy for the most serious crimes," she stated.
The inevitable journalistic question was about the "tunnel" case, and the Acting President of the Supreme Court instructed the media to inquire with the State Prosecutor's Office.
"For years, the Supreme Court has pointed to the need to establish a court security service, but also to raise the level of security for employees and citizens who have access to the courts, and recent negative events put an additional burden on the work in the courts. In the previous year, the Supreme Court initiated numerous meetings with state representatives authorities and international organizations, in order to improve the state of security in the courts," said Vučković.
On the building where the seats of the Supreme Court of Montenegro, the Court of Appeal of Montenegro and the High Court in Podgorica are located, work on the reconstruction of the roof and facade began in mid-July 2023.
"The reconstruction is part of the project "Improving the efficiency of the judiciary". The investor is the Directorate for Capital Projects, the value of the works is around three and a half million euros, and the funds are provided from the IPA fund of the EU. The Embassy of the United States of America in Podgorica donated to the Supreme Court of Montenegro a valuable technical equipment, which consists of audio-video devices for recording sessions, press conferences and meetings, which are held in the Ceremonial Hall of the Supreme Court," she stated.
Bonus video:
