A roundtable discussion on the importance and application of the Law on Protection of the Right to Trial within a Reasonable Time was held today in Banja Luka, organised by the Ministry of Justice of the Republika Srpska.
The roundtable discussion was attended by the President of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zlatko M. Knežević, the Minister Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Josip Grubeša, the Minister of Justice of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Mato Jozić, the representative of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, Halil Lagumdžija, the President of the Constitutional Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kata Senjak, the President of the Constitutional Court of the Republika Srpska, Džerard Selman, the President of the Supreme Court of the Republika Srpska, Vesna Antonić, and other distinguished guests and colleagues.
Minister Kasipović noted that the provisions of the Law on Protection of the Right to Trial within a Reasonable Time would contribute to the efficiency of the courts and thereby benefit the citizens of the Republika Srpska.
“The Republika Srpska was the first one in Bosnia and Herzegovina to pass such a legal solution. It is of the great importance for the citizens, when the proceedings of the courts are concerned, to be delivered a decision which is rendered on time and in accordance with deadlines,” Minister Kasipović said.
He expressed confidence that other levels of Bosnia and Herzegovina government would adopt legal solutions on the protection of the right to a trial within reasonable time.
The President of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zlatko M. Knežević, pointed out that it is significant that the Government and the Ministry of Justice of the Republika Srpska have vigorously embarked on the reform of system and adopted the Law on Protection of the Right to Trial within a Reasonable Time.
“This firmly establishes the European standard in the obligations of public authorities. The Brčko District passed a similar Law. The Council of Ministers adopted a draft legal solution and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the process of adoption thereof,” President Knežević stated.
The participants were presented with the Guidebook – Trial within a reasonable time, which analyses the application of this right as well as the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and it is intended not only for the judges, prosecutors, lawyers, attorneys and academic researchers, but also for the journalists and nongovernmental organisations following the work of the judicial system.
The National Assembly of the Republika Srpska adopted the Law on Protection of the Right to Trial within a Reasonable Time of the Republika Srpska, which entered into force on 1 January, as a possible solution for the lengthy proceedings before the courts.
