Monthly Report: October 2015 - Judicial Strengthening Project (JSP)

The project, implemented by Tetra Tech DPK, focused on strengthening advocacy and citizen participation in judicial sector reform, improving the independence, efficiency, and consistency of judicial policies and practices, and increasing fairness and efficiency in the administration of justice. Strengthening Advocacy and Citizen Participation in Judicial Sector Reform was a key objective of the JSP. The project fulfilled Requirement 1.1 by conducting a short, focused assessment, baseline survey, and resulting action plan on justice sector LPAs and CSOs and their role in strengthening the rule of law in Macedonia. This assessment identified the capacity of at least two judicial sector professional associations to be improved. The project supported the development of a methodology for advocacy for the Rule of Law Council (ROLC) and provided training to the Macedonian Judges Association (MJA), Court Administrators Association (CAA), and other LPAs and CSOs. The training program aimed to build the capacities of these organizations to play a more effective role in strengthening the rule of law in Macedonia. The project also supported the development of a three-year Strategic Plan for the CAA and the preparation of sub-regulations pertaining to the evaluation of court employees, in accordance with the Law on Court Service. These initiatives aimed to address the challenges faced by the CAA and court administrators in the evaluation of court employees. Improving the Independence, Effectiveness, and Accountability of the Judicial System was another key objective of the JSP. The project supported periodic meetings of the Judicial Branch Forum (JBF) and provided financial support for the organization of the tenth meeting of the JBF. The meeting discussed various agenda items, including the harmonization of court decisions on appellate court level, the operations of the High Administrative Court, and the implementation of Differentiated Case Management (DCM) and National Time Standards (NTS) in two pilot courts in Macedonia. The project also supported the establishment of analytical offices to perform applied research and analysis and the development of software for interoperability between the Automated Case Management and Information System of the JC and the Automated Management and Information System of JCMIS. These initiatives aimed to improve the efficiency and consistency of judicial policies and practices in Macedonia. Overall, the JSP made significant progress in strengthening the judicial sector in Macedonia, improving the independence, efficiency, and consistency of judicial policies and practices, and increasing fairness and efficiency in the administration of justice.