Duration: September 2011 - September 2016

Budget: $6.6 million

Implementing Partner: International Development Law Organization (IDLO)

Key Partners: Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan, The Council of Judges, Judicial Training Center

Activity Locations: Nationwide

The program provides targeted assistance to improve independence, capacity, and integrity of Kyrgyzstan’s judiciary.

MAJOR FOCUS AREAS

1. Support for reforms improving judicial independence;
2. Improving the human resource capacity of the judiciary;
3. Improving judicial integrity.

EXPECTED IMPACT AND RESULTS

• The National Target Program for Development of the Judiciary of the Kyrgyz Republic 2014-2017 (“NTP”) was created and adopted by all branches of government in 2014. The program has more than doubled the Judiciary’s budget, underpinning improved judicial training, e-justice efforts, wages and infrastructure.
• A key Draft Law on Conflicts of Interest initiated under the program and essential for both improved independence and for anti-corruption efforts throughout the government, including the Judiciary, is in final stages of legislative and executive approval. In February 2017, the President returned for improvement a version passed by the Jogorku Kenesh, with a compromise version is anticipated to go into force late spring of 2017.
• Additional legislation, a Law on Courtroom Security, a Law on Access to Judicial Decisions and an Ethics Code, aimed at increasing both the independence of the Judiciary and its accountability to Kyrgyz citizens, were adopted and/or signed into force during 2016. The program is supporting practical implementation of the new laws introducing new protections and forms of accountability, for example, by helping the Court Department create a 300 member Courtroom Security Division. 
• The program produced and aired six episodes of the Achyk Aikyn court show on public national television network in Kyrgyz and Russian languages. The show demonstrates the role of the truly independent judiciary and its value.
• The project-supported Judicial Training Center became the High Justice Training Center under the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic. This has enabled the center to triple its staffing and contributed to its sustainability.
• IDLO and USAID program helped to introduce and mainstream mandatory training program for sitting judges, newly appointed judges, candidates for judgeships and other court personnel. Since 2015, 78 judges went through the training and became trainers themselves, while 218 judges and 73 court personnel completed 10 courses.
• The project helped to develop and publish more than 8,000 copies of different publications such as handbooks, sample court orders, guidelines, manuals, commentaries for judges and other legal professionals. Electronic versions of the publications are available on the Supreme Court website (www.jogorku.sot.kg).
• New methodology to analyze judicial decisions, developed by judges and legal professionals with support from the project, helps to the judiciary address and correct inconsistent decision making. The program supports expanded use of the methodology by the Supreme Court.
• The project helped to introduce several IT solutions in the judiciary: an electronic system for testing judge-candidates, specialized software to publish court decisions online and a document management system for the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court to speed up processes. Moreover, the Supreme Court has now a specialized IT unit established with support of the project to independently maintain and advance IT use within the courts.
• Since 2016 court decisions must be published on www.sot.kg, a result of the project’s assistance in advancing the law on Access to Judicial Information. The program helped to facilitate the publication process through equipping courts throughout the country with necessary technology, software and training.
• Mock court courses in three universities provide hands-on training for law students in both civil and criminal procedure, with experienced trial judges participating as instructors (between 2014 and 2017). Several competitions among students of law faculties on preparation of judicial decisions and trial practice also stimulate practical efforts of students to improve their skills and capacities.