Courts need to adapt to the stronger influences of the media and to new communication practices – this message was voiced at the gathering of members of Judicial Council, Supreme Court of Montenegro, press judges and staff members, in the context of the development of new communication policies and improvement of the existing ones which was recently commenced under the action “Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro”.

Thanks to expert assistance of the European Union and the Council of Europe, the representative of judiciary are working on developing the new Communication Strategy of the Judicial Council for the period 2024 – 2026 and on updating Communication Protocols of Courts. The new policies are aimed at providing a strategic framework for proactive communication in order to strengthen the authority of the judiciary and to enhance public trust in judiciary.

While it is necessary to develop openness towards media, it should be always born in mind that the duty of judicial branch is to protect right of privacy, presumption of innocence, right to fair trial and the right of victims.  In order to develop balance between legitimate right of public to be informed the protection of the rights of all those involved in judicial proceedings, a set of relevant European standards and tools, including opinions of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE), will be considered.

The new communication policies will form the basis for working on more transparent work of the courts, in line with defined goals, types and models of communication. It will also help establish better co-ordination of court’s communication activities and strengthen visibility and reputation of the Judicial Council. The policies should be adopted by the end of this year, with implementation starting in 2024.

The action “Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro” is part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme „Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Türkiye“.