General background. Goals
The Program for the Development of the Judicial System is a not-for-profit association performing activities in public benefit.
The goals of the Association, pursuant to its Articles of Association, are: to support the development of the judicial system and the strengthening of Rule of Law through the encouragement of judicial reform, improvement of access to justice, increasing the support, trust and confidence of the civil society in the work of the judicial system, popularizing national and international standards and acts in the field of development of the judicial system and protection of human rights.
ІІ. Management bodies
The management bodies of the Association are the General Meeting and the Management Board. The Management Board consists of three members – Velislava Delcheva (Chairperson), Presiana Manolova and Denitsa Yankova. In accordance with the Articles of Association, the term of office of the Management Board is 3 years.
ІІІ. Members
In 2009, the Association has 10 members. The activities of the Association are supported by a number of colleagues who are not members of the Association but whose contribution is essential to the success of the PDJS. The main part of the experts who take part in the implementation of projects are magistrates and court staff from Model Courts and Courts in Partnership.
ІV. Projects
The past year is assessed as successful as the Association worked on 2 projects and both of them ended by the end of 2009.
Project Strengthening the Court System in Bulgaria through Implementation of the Court Improvement Plan
Funding organization: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and German Marshall Fund
Duration: 1 year
Status: closed
The PDJS implemented a one-year project with the support of USAID and the German Marshall Fund which continued the development of the Model Courts and Courts in Partnership Program and evidenced the need for it. The tool the courts continue to use in their activities is the Court Improvement Plan. The project ensured sustainability of the achievements of the Model Courts and Courts in Partnership and provided new courts which had not worked with the PDJS until then with the opportunity to join in. As a result of the completion of the project, the courts received assistance for equipment of new information centers and for the elaboration of a second Court Improvement Plan.
А. Inclusion of new courts
The selection of new courts to join the program was competitive. The PDJS received 15 applications from courts throughout the country which see the Courts Improvement Plan as an effective tool they can use to optimize the work processes. It is important to note that the Model Courts and Courts in Partnership program enjoyed heightened interest. A military court joined the initiative for the first time. The new courts were selected by Model Courts and Courts in Partnership with the active participation of SJC representatives.
The courts which joined in in 2009 are:
- Varna Military Court in partnership with Varna District Court;
- Varna Administrative Court in partnership with Varna Regional Court;
- Sliven Regional Court in partnership with Sliven District Court;
- Sofia Region Administrative Court in partnership with Yambol Administrative Court;
- Haskovo Administrative Court in partnership with Yambol Administrative Court;
- Shumen Administrative Court in partnership with Shumen District Court.
B. Opening of 4 new information centers
The active building of information centers in courts continues with a view to implementing the Concept Paper on Information Centers adopted by the Supreme Judicial Council. The PDJS supported the overall building of 3 new information centers on the territory of:
- Veliko Tarnovo Administrative Court
- Lovech District Court (services the Lovech Regional and District Courts)
3.Radomir Regional Court.
The information centers provide information to the members of the public and the court customers about the movement and deadlines on cases, the structure of the court and the judicial procedures, the work of the judges and the administrative staff and the location of judicial halls and court services. If necessary, the staff in the centers can assist with the filling in of various forms and requests addressed to the court.
7 (seven) court staff members were trained for the needs of the newly opened information centers. They received assistance from their colleagues from the Vratsa Regional and District Court who work in the information centers there. Thus, in addition to the practical thrust of the training, direct contacts were established among the participants in the training and their colleagues and an active working environment was set up.
The PDJS assisted the Yambol Administrative Court with the completion of its information center with the purchase of equipment which ensures faster court service to the public.
C. Elaboration of a second Court Improvement Plan
In its essence, the first Court Improvement Plan encouraged the courts to look for ways to involve and seek the more active participation of the members of the public, attorneys and the media in the work of the court as well as ways to improve it. 36 courts in the country achieved positive results in its implementation. As a result of the progress reported, two more courts – Vratsa Regional Court and Yambol Administrative Court – were announced Model Courts in December 2009.
The courts themselves identified the need to create new challenges in their work and that is why Plan 2 was elaborated. Its development reflects the current European practices and the new topics of interest to the courts. The Plan was elaborated by a working group with the participation of representative of the Supreme Judicial Council, judges and court staff from regional, district and administrative courts and PDJS experts. The magistrates and court staff determined the priority areas on which they will work in the next three years:
- Policies and planning
- Judicial management
- Development of the human and materials resources
- Judicial procedures
- Access to justice
- Boosting the trust in the work of the court.
The second Court Improvement Plan was presented at the second meeting of chairpersons of Model Courts and Courts in Partnership held on 4 December 2009 and received the approval of 42 administrative heads.
Project The system of complaints and signals against judicial misconduct in the courts – review of the current situation and analysis of best practices in Europe
Funding organization: MATRA/KAP Programme of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bulgaria
Duration: 6 months
Status: closed
The main project goals was to study the system of complains and signals against judicial misconduct and to identify good European practices with a view to improving the measures against corruption in the judiciary.
The project contributed to the overall review of the system of submission of complaints and signals against judicial misconduct which included an analysis of the regulatory framework and a review of the authority of the judicial bodies in this regard. The study provides complete information about the various ways in which the members of the public may file signals and complaints and the procedure followed when such are received. Its preparation involved magistrates, representative of the Supreme Judicial Council and the Inspectorate with it, experts with the SJC Administration and the National Institute of Justice who, in three working groups and a round table organized at then end of the project, had the opportunity to complement the information with good practices and to make recommendations about the improvement of the system. In addition, the project experts drew up a comparative legal analysis of the systems of complaints in selected EU Member States.
VІ. Website
The Association has a website – www.prss-bg.org
The website of the Association was developed under the project Strengthening the Court System in Bulgaria through Implementation of the Court Improvement Plan funded by USAID and the German Marshall Fund. The website provides information about the organization, its goals, team and projects. The Articles of Association are posted as well as notices concerning the work of the Program. The website is maintained in two languages – Bulgarian and English.
VІІ. Media relations
The Program for the Development of the Judicial System is developing close cooperation in working with the media. All events related to the work of the PDJS have been covered in the media widely – for example, the opening of the information centers in the Lovech District Coourt, Radomir Regional Court and Veliko Tarnovo Administrative Court. The cooperation with the media will continue in the future.
VIII. Office
In October 2009 the PDJS moved to a new office and the address of the Association is 5 Stara Planina St, Sofia. It gives is the opportunity to use work places, offices, conference rooms, etc. for a monthly subscription.
