USAID/Macedonia Judicial Strengthening Project Monthly Report: April 2012

The project is funded by USAID and implemented by Tetra Tech DPK. The project's first-year work plan was finalized in April 2012 and approved by the USAID Contracting Officer Representative (COR) on April 13, 2012. The plan outlines the project's objectives, activities, and performance-monitoring plan. The project's main objective is to strengthen the capacity of legal professional associations (LPAs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) to advocate for judicial reform and build pressure on the Government of Macedonia to undertake reforms that advance judicial independence and effectiveness. The project has identified relevant LPAs and CSOs willing and able to advocate for judicial reform, including the Association for Emancipation, Solidarity, and Equality; the Center for Institutional Development; the Macedonian Institute for Integration; World Learning Impact; and the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation. The project has conducted a revised assessment of LPAs and CSOs, which identified significant strengths but also areas where capacity strengthening is needed. The project has selected three LPAs for targeted capacity-building assistance: the Macedonian Judges Association (MJA), the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association (MYLA), and the Court Administration Association (CAA). The project has also identified potential partner organizations that will receive capacity-building assistance, including those that were part of the assessment but not selected for targeted training. The project's capacity-building efforts for the MJA include supporting initiatives that will make the MJA a formidable voice for its members, the judiciary, and the rule of law. The project has reached a consensus with the president of the MJA on areas of cooperation, including collaboration in the development of national time standards for the resolution of litigation and differentiated case management. The project will also facilitate roundtables or discussion groups on topics such as decriminalization of defamation law, challenges of commercial cases for judges and lawyers, and troublesome aspects of the Civil Procedure Law. The Court Administration Association (CAA) is a relatively new organization with approximately 1,200 members. It has demonstrated a collective will to support its membership, endorse court reform, and effectively advocate for an independent judiciary. The project is confident that the gaps in its organization will be remedied and that it will continue to be one of the sterling LPAs in Macedonia. The CAA has been invited to attend the International Association of Court Administrators (IACA) conference from June 13 to 15 and to deliver a presentation on new automation systems for court administration and management. The project's performance-monitoring plan includes indicators such as the ratio of new case filings to dispositions, which is still being developed. The project anticipates completing the indicator in early May and resubmitting it to USAID. The project will also work with the LPAs and CSOs to provide better services to and advocate for the interests of their members. The goal is to foster the demand side of judicial reform and build pressure on the Government of Macedonia and judicial leadership to undertake reforms that advance judicial independence and effectiveness.