Judges' Forum of Serbia Presents Proposals for Amendments to the Court Rules of Procedure: Focus on Efficiency, Specialization, and Alternative Dispute Resolution
The Judges' Forum of Serbia has prepared a Consolidated Proposal for Amendments to the Court Rules of Procedure, with the aim of modernizing court operations, increasing the efficiency of judicial proceedings, strengthening judicial specialization, and improving alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
The proposed amendments cover several important areas that directly affect the quality and speed of judicial protection for citizens. Particular emphasis has been placed on the establishment of specialized family law departments in appellate courts, as well as in first-instance courts where staffing and organizational conditions permit. The purpose of this proposal is to ensure better protection of the rights of children and families, greater consistency in judicial practice, and enhanced expertise of judges handling sensitive family law cases.
A significant portion of the proposal relates to the digitalization of the judiciary and the introduction of mandatory electronic communication within the courts, as well as electronic service of submissions and court decisions to parties. The proposed measures aim to expedite proceedings, reduce administrative costs, and increase the transparency and security of communications.
The Judges' Forum of Serbia also points to the need for improved recording of small claims and consumer disputes through special classification within the Court Rules of Procedure and the AVP system, in order to make these cases more visible, enable statistical monitoring, and ensure their more efficient resolution.
One of the important issues addressed by the proposal is electronic archiving of case files, which would significantly reduce the burden on court archives and accelerate the process of disposing of files after the expiration of retention periods.
A special place within the proposal is devoted to alternative dispute resolution and mediation. The Judges' Forum of Serbia proposes that the Court Rules of Procedure finally recognize and regulate in greater detail the operation of mediation support information services, the establishment of a dedicated "M" registry, and the recording of successful mediations in judicial performance reports.
In addition, the proposal addresses the issue of balanced assignment of judicial panels to newly appointed judges, as well as reducing judges' administrative workload through greater use of information technologies and a clearer division of responsibilities within court administration.
The Judges' Forum of Serbia believes that these amendments are necessary in order to create a more modern, efficient, and accessible judiciary, in which judges will have more time for substantive judicial work and citizens will receive faster and higher-quality judicial protection.
The proposed amendments particularly emphasize the need for the judicial system to develop toward greater specialization, digitalization, and support for alternative methods of dispute resolution, as key prerequisites for the more efficient functioning of courts in Serbia.
The Consolidated Proposal for Amendments to the Court Rules of Procedure can be downloaded from the following link
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