Mission Report: Workshops for Pilot Courts' Judges on Legal Research and Methodology

The workshops, led by expert Mrs. Elira KOKONA, aimed to strengthen the judges' abilities in decision-making and judgment writing. The training sessions were part of the ROLP's efforts to improve the Albanian judiciary's capacity to enforce European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgments. The workshops focused on the methodology and standards for speedy and efficient research, as well as the skimming of legal information. Participants were introduced to well-known legal sources and databases, including Westlaw and LexisNexis, and were instructed on how to explore the range of information offered by the internet and publications. A particular emphasis was placed on the official website of the ECHR and its case-law engine, HUDOC. During the workshop sessions, judges and their staff welcomed the organization of activities, which directly influenced their efficiency in fulfilling their decision-making tasks. Participants expressed their concern about the efficiency of PC equipment in their offices and the lack of internet connections in the courts' houses. They also highlighted the need for assistance with professional books and legal materials, as well as technical support for internet researches. The workshops were attended by judges and their staff from the District Court of Durres, the District Court and the Court of Appeal of Gjirokaster, the District Court of Elbasan, the District Court and the Court of Appeal of Vlora, the District Court of Saranda, and the Court of Appeal of Tirana. Legal secretaries from the Supreme Court also participated in the sessions. The participants appreciated the practical part of the workshop, where they were assisted by the expert and given the possibility to personally explore the HUDOC and find ECHR case law to support their findings in a study case. The participants were very active, and the fact that they were individually connected to a computer equipped with internet access helped the examination during the session of the methods for an efficient research and skimming of the broad range of legal information offered by the internet and other sources. The workshops were facilitated by the DPK Consulting, Division of ARD, Inc., and were supported by the ROLP staff. The organization of the activities was affected by natural events, which made it impossible to hold the last workshop session in Shkoder. However, the difficulties related to the organization of numerous administrative and technical arrangements within a very short period of time were faced professionally by the DPK representatives. The participants expressed their appreciation of the excellent contribution given by the experts and representatives of the ROLP during the programme, not only during the training sessions but also while assisting them with technical support and legal materials. However, they stressed the need for assistance with professional books in general and legal materials in particular, as well as technical support for internet researches.