Independence of the judiciary, citizens’ trust and the need for better communication between judges and the public are in the focus of the XVI Annual Conference of Chief Justices of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), taking place in Skopje on Monday and Tuesday.
Participants in today’s opening of the conference pointed out that judicial independence and democratic institutions are at risk without strong public support, noting that the exchange of experiences and good practices is necessary to address common challenges.
At Monday’s opening of the conference, participants emphasized that without strong public support, judicial independence and democratic institutions are at risk, and the exchange of experiences and good practices is necessary to address common challenges.
The conference, hosted by the Macedonian Supreme Court, brought together the highest representatives of thirteen supreme courts, as well as judges from the United States and experts from international organizations.
In her address, Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova stressed that the state of the judiciary is most often assessed through the role and functioning of the Supreme Court.
“The highest judicial instance, when independent, enjoys the greatest public trust and this is proof of the rule of law. The status and work of the Supreme Court is very often an assessment of the state of the entire judiciary. Any attempt to politicize the Supreme Court is a risk not only for judicial independence but also for the democratic order,” noted Siljanovska-Davkova.
The Macedonian head of state added that the role of the supreme courts is also crucial for the stability of democracy.
“Therefore, when the supreme courts successfully perform their role of uniform application of laws, then trust in the judiciary also grows. The decisions of the courts have a strong influence on the work of lower courts, but also on the strength of democracy,” President Siljanovska-Davkova pointed out.
