N3.T5 – SPECIAL DEPARTMENT OF THE HIGH COURT IN PODGORICA TO GAIN NEW STAFF AMID ONGOING DEPARTURES
HRA NEWSLETTER 3 – TOPIC 5
During the session held on December 13, the Judicial Council unanimously voted to increase the number of judges in the Special Department of the High Court in Podgorica. The decision will add six additional judges to the department, and it was also determined that the number of advisers should be increased so that each judge can be assigned one.
Currently, the Special Department consists of six judges and two investigative judges who handle the most serious criminal cases related to organized crime. As of October 2024, these judges are managing a significant backlog, with 162 unresolved cases among them.
However, it remains uncertain whether the Judicial Council’s decision will effectively enhance the promptness of the Special Department’s proceedings. Notably, after judges Vesna Kovačević, Sonja Keković, Nenad Vujanović, and Igor Djuričković indicated their desire for advancement and expressed intentions to transition to the Appellate Court of Montenegro, there is concern about potential disruptions within the department. Currently, Judge Nada Rabrenović, who is on extended sick leave, is the only judge who has not expressed a desire to leave the Special Department.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Special Department of the High Court in Podgorica in addressing a significant caseload amidst staffing changes, raising questions about the effectiveness and stability of the judicial response to organized crime cases in Montenegro. The efforts to bolster staffing must be matched by measures to retain existing personnel to ensure the judicial system can operate effectively.
