Judicial Training Center of Montenegro

According to (at that time) adopted Statute of the JTC, training programs were targeted towards judges, judicial assistants and court trainees, as well as other staff employed in the courts’ administration and courts’ guard.

Main task of the JTC, according to this Statute, is training of judges and other above mentioned target groups in the fields of new legislation, international standards in different legal areas, modern methods of conducting judicial work and organizing court managment, foreign languages, computer skills, etc. JTC organized its first training activity named 'Enforcement of the Law on Executive Procedure' on 22nd December 2000. During first year of its functioning, JTC tended to respond to the needs of judges which were recognized by the editors of the JTC programs (judges of the Supreme Court) and also through filling the questionnaires by other judges. Training on enforcement of the Law on Executive Procedure was organized. This law was causing certain problems in practise at that time. Series of seminars named 'Civil Procedure Code - Efficiency of the Procedure' were organized in Podgorica and Bijelo Polje with the purpose of improving the efficiency of trials in accordance with the Council of Europe standards concering the right to a fair trial. Series of seminars in the field of substantive criminal law were organized for criminal judges, and also series of seminars named 'Criminal Procedure Code in Practise' began.

JTC has organized really many different training activities so far (seminars, round tables, workshops, courses, regional conferences, study visits, publishing and similar). Reports on JTC training activities can be found at the page of this web-site named 'Activity reports'. According to the JTC evidence on participation in its training activities, huge majority of Montenegrin judges participated in these activities (aprox. 90% - also see research on judges and judicial assistants and their training at the page of this web-site named 'Publications'). In addition to providing participation of judges in its own activities, JTC also helps judges to participate in many other activities which are completely organized by other organizations, or where the JTC is one of the co-organizers. When conducting trainings, JTC always tends to take practical approach. This anticipates analyses of the case-law, discussions and solving practical problems. Active participation is encouraged and trainings are organized for small groups of trainees (20-30 participants).

It should be stressed that JTC has so far cooperated with significant number of relevant partners (European Union/European Agency for Reconstruction, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-OSCE, Council of Europe, Foundation Open Society Institute-Soros, Checchy and Company Consulting, Inc./USAID, UNDP, etc.). In the field of human rights training and training on standards of the Council of Europe, JTC cooperates with organizations which are specialized for offering this kind of training. Primarily with the Council of Europe, then also with the AIRE Centre from London (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe), CEDEM (Center for Democracy and Human Rights from Podgorica-Montenegro) and similar.

It is extremely important to emphasize that in April 2006 Law on Judiciary Training was adopted. Its implementation started on 1st January 2007. This law introduces many important novelties when training of judges and prosecutors in Montenegro is concerned. Text of this law and also text about it, can be found at the page of this web-site named 'Laws and other legal documents'.

All the other useful information about JTC, as well as all our publications, can be found at the other pages of this web-site. We are, of course, at you disposal for any eventual comments, questions or sugestions.

Kind regards!

JUDICIAL TRAINING CENTER OF MONTENEGRO

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