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The president of the Association of Serbian Judges, Snezana Bjelogrlic, stated that even with the existing legal framework, despite its shortcomings, it is possible to get in the way of organized crime and improve the rule of law, if there really is political will. In conversation with Beta, Bjelogrlic recalled that our institutional framework enables political influence in the judiciary, because, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, judges and prosecutors are elected by the National Assembly, and that the Superior Council of the Judiciary (HJC) and the Council of State Prosecutors (DVT), who decide on their careers, are met by representatives of the political part of the government.
“By the way, I know that there are examples from countries of the so-called old democracies where perhaps there is more institutional space to influence the judiciary, which our politicians often give as an example. However, these institutional possibilities are not abused, at least not in an open way, “said Bjelogrlic.
As he stated, “in them there are strong real guarantees of independence of the judiciary, and the public is their ‘watchdog’ because they closely monitor and point out any abuse in this regard.”
On the occasion of the events that occurred in our country, he added that “one should not close one’s eyes to inappropriate influences on judges and, especially, prosecutors,” about what, as he stated, the president of the Superior Court of Belgrade, Aleksandar Stepanović.
If, as he pointed out, “the judicial institutions are not strong, if the rules do not apply to everyone in the same way, and especially if they do not apply to those who pass them, the public is increasingly losing confidence in them.”
“I hope that we never have to face the possibility of dissatisfied citizens who take the law into their own hands and only then realize the importance of a depoliticized judiciary,” he warned.
Citizens have the right to an independent judge
Bjelogrlic, who was elected to the Supreme Judicial Council last week, noted that citizens legally belong to an independent judge.
Explaining in more detail the role of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, which will begin to function in its new composition in April, he affirmed that the most important judicial body elects judges for a permanent term, and decides on their promotion and removal.
That is why it is necessary, he said, that the HJC be made up of professional integrity judges, capable of resisting inappropriate influences and of preserving and ensuring the independence of both judges and courts.
She interpreted the fact that she obtained the highest number of votes in the history of judicial elections, as the first candidate in the base of basic and misdemeanor courts, as a recognition of her activity in the Association of Judges of Serbia, on which she based your program by presenting yourself to the judges.
“The Association of Judges of Serbia never acts from political office, it only constantly strives to strengthen the independence of the judiciary,” said Bjelogrlic, who is one of three members of the professional association who were elected from five new members during this election. for the Supreme Judicial Council.
“The result of the last judicial elections is unique, both in terms of the number of votes obtained and the number of elected members of the Association of Judges of Serbia.” “When you take into account that the highest number of judges voted in the database of basic and misdemeanor courts, 1,089 of them, it is concluded that the attitudes and principles of the Association of Serbian Judges have great support from the judges, “said Bjelogrlic.
