Why does the judiciary in Republika Srpska and BiH perceive every criticism as pressure on the work of courts and prosecutors’ offices, even when no specific cases or verdicts are mentioned? Do judicial institutions consider themselves beyond criticism, and do they believe their ranks are free from bribery, corruption and political interference?
Problems within the judiciary do exist, according to assessments not only from the media, but also from citizens and representatives of the executive branch. Inefficiency is also an issue within Serbia’s judicial system, and cooperation between the justice ministries of Republika Srpska and Serbia is aimed at improving its functioning. One of the questions being raised is whether introducing oversight of judicial institutions could contribute to greater efficiency.
Judging by public perceptions, judicial institutions in both Republika Srpska and BiH require significant changes. Many of those surveyed believe that corruption and political influence affect a considerable number of courts and prosecutors’ offices.
Republika Srpska Justice Minister Goran Selak acknowledged that problems exist and said citizens expect the judiciary to work more efficiently.
“Citizens of Republika Srpska expect a more efficient judiciary. As minister, I expect the same. There are individuals who damage the reputation of the judiciary, and those individuals need to be identified and prosecuted,” Selak said.
Serbia also faces challenges within its judicial institutions, including inconsistent court practices and proceedings that are not completed within a reasonable period. According to figures cited by Serbian officials, these problems result in substantial costs to the state budget.
“Twenty to thirty million because a case ended in an acquittal. Why did we pay 30 million in a single judgment?” Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujić said.
Serbia has established a department responsible for oversight of judicial institutions, and its experience could also be applied in Republika Srpska, where a similar department is expected to begin operating in the near future. The stated objective is to improve the efficiency of courts and prosecutors’ offices.
“Republika Srpska plans to begin implementing oversight of courts and prosecutors’ offices at the beginning of next year,” Selak said.
Vujić stressed that cooperation between the two justice ministries is not intended to interfere with individual court rulings.
“The cooperation is not about commenting on court decisions, but about creating better conditions for the functioning of the judicial system,” Vujić said.
Officials from the Republika Srpska Ministry of Justice also argue that one of the problems is the absence of representatives of the executive branch from the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH, which appoints judges and prosecutors.
They have additionally criticized certain BiH-level judicial institutions that they consider inconsistent with the Dayton constitutional framework, alleging that some judicial decisions have been influenced by political considerations.
Against this background, the question remains whether planned oversight mechanisms and closer institutional cooperation can improve the efficiency of the judiciary and strengthen public confidence in courts and prosecutors’ offices.
Source: RTRS
