Start date:  December 2011
Duration:  Three years
Project budget (Life of Project):  $ 3,696,110
Implementer:  Tetra Tech DPK

Objectives

Strengthen the role of the judiciary in the separation of powers, and develop broad based support for rule of law and judicial sector reform.

Components

Advocacy and Citizen Participation in Judicial Sector Reforms – Develop the capacity of justice sector professional associations to play a leadership role in justice system reform efforts.

Independent, efficient and consistent application of judicial sector policies and practices - Develop effective court governance systems and practices; increase the role of the judiciary in preparing laws and policies governing the branch; and promote more effective and accountable operations of judicial sector institutions and courts.

Effective legal personnel and efficient processes – Improve efficiency and quality of justice through specialized trainings to judges and court personnel. 

Achievements/Impact

With project support, the Macedonian Judges Association organized public discussions on suggested changes to legislation. The output from those discussions contributed to the decriminalization of slander and defamation so that these issues will now be dealt with in civil court procedures. In addition, the Ministry of Justice has adopted sub-regulations on the Law on Court Service – to regulate the selection and employment procedures for non-judicial court staff - that were prepared by the Court Administration Association with project support. 

Over 220 participants, including chief judges, court administrators, court accountants, the Court Budget Council and its Administrative Office, were trained on developing needs-based budgets and managing courts in financially difficult times. As a result, six courts developed budget requests based on their actual needs and workload, and their best practices will be shared with all other courts.

Case management and backlog reduction committees were established in eight courts to identify reasons for case management delays and backlogs, and to develop effective measures for addressing the reasons. As a result, seven of the eight courts resolved newly filed cases in a timely manner and also managed to clear some of their backlogged cases. 

Contact Information

Contact at USAID:  Antoaneta Skartova, COR askartova@usaid.gov
Chief of Party:  Nevenka Ivanovska nivanovska@judicialsupport.org
Information Officer: Ivan Mojsov ivan.mojsov@judicialsupport.org