Justice Minister underlines Montenegro’s commitment to ensuring right to trial within reasonable time

"An old legal maxim says 'delayed justice is denied justice'. The ideal of modern democracy is based on this maxim. It is the underlying principle of advanced judicial systems, in the centre of which is the man, the citizen and their human rights and freedoms, enshrined in numerous international instruments and national legislations," Justice Minister Dusko Markovic told a roundtable discussion on the right to trial within a reasonable time on Thursday.

Minister Markovic underlined that this ideal can never be achieved without an efficient judicial system.

“Montenegro as a society based on European values and a country aspiring to join the EU, is committed to promoting all aspects of its judicial system”, said he.

The Minister went on to present the achievements of judicial reform so far, including reduction of backlog cases in courts, revision of substantive and procedural laws, promotion of alternative dispute settlement procedures, relieving courts of non-judicial workload, alignment of case law and regionalization of the judicial network.

”We have improved, substantially, the financial standing of members of the judiciary and advanced the criteria for their appointment, promotion and disciplinary liability. We will facilitate access to judicial authorities, by introducing the system of free legal assistance,” the Justice Minister explained.