BY THE STANDARDSThe Model Courts in Pictures

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2008 - 2011

In memory of Esat Shala, President, Peja District Court, founding member of the Model Courts Consortium.

The Model Courts

Commercial CourtFerizaj Municipal CourtGjakova Municipal CourtGjilan Municipal CourtKamenica Municipal CourtMitrovica District CourtPeja District CourtPristina Municipal CourtPrizren Municipal CourtSkenderaj Municipal Court

The Model Courts Initiative was established with support from the Kosovo Judicial Council to design and test reforms in court administration to improve the professionalism, transparency, and accountability of court operations. These reforms were then incorporated in the Manual on Court Management adopted by the Council in April 2010 through which best practices in functional court restructuring, records management, public communications, and access and security were transferred to all Kosovo Courts.

The Model Courts Initiative started in December 2007 with six courts of diverse geographic and substantive jurisdiction. In April 2009, an additional four courts joined the Initiative. An additional ten courts had benefited from the Program through the Courts-in-Partnership initiative, facility refurbishment, and other activities to implement selected standards.

The Model Courts Initiative was made possible by the USAID Justice Support Program implemented by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC).

John Ferry Enver PeciProgram Director ChairUSAID Justice Support Program Kosovo Judicial Council

F O R E W O R D

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GENERAL COURT ADMINISTRATIONThrough the Model Courts Initiative, a restructuring of the management and administrative functions of the court was completed. This restructuring enabled the courts to deliver services to citizens more efficiently and transparently. Model Courts now operate with a management team made up of the Court President, Court Administrator and coordinators of the Central Records Management Office, Public Information Office, and other relevant offices.

Release of the Model Courts Manual on Court Management

Release of the Model Courts Manual on Court Management

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Staff briefing on the new court organization in Ferizaj Municipal Court

Leadership Training for Court Presidents and Administrators

Staff briefing on the new court organization in Gjilan Municipal Court

Staff briefing on the new court organization in Peja District Court

Public briefing on court restructuring and renovation in Skenderaj Municipal Court

Prizren Municipal Court Improvement Team

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Commercial Court, Open Cases Skenderaj Municipal Court, Archived Cases

CASE AND RECORDS MANAGEMENTThe Model Courts Initiative introduced modern case and records management procedures that ensure the timely and accurate maintenance of all case records. New color-coded edge-tabbed case files were introduced. Files are centrally located in a Central Records Management Office enabling administrative staff to track deadlines and answer questions from litigants on case status, freeing judges from cumbersome administrative work so they can focus on adjudicating cases.

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Index Card & Out Card Systems in the Commercial Court and Skenderaj Municipal Court

Central Records Management Office in Ferizaj Municipal Court

Central Records Management Office in Gjilan Municipal Court

Central Records Management Office in the Commercial Court

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GENERAL COURT ADMINISTRATIONThrough the Model Courts Initiative, a restructuring of the management and administrative functions of the court was completed. This restructuring enabled the courts to deliver services to citizens more efficiently and transparently. Model Courts now operate with a management team made up of the Court President, Court Administrator and coordinators of the Central Records Management Office, Public Information Office, and other relevant offices.

National Backlog Reduction Strategy Working Group

National Backlog Reduction Strategy Actions by Institution

Within

1 month 6 months 1 year 2 years Total

Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) 7 10 2 19

KJC Legal Department 1 9 5 15

KJC Secretariat Personnel Department 2 1 3

KJC Secretariat IT Department 1 1 2

KJC Secretariat Logistics Department 3 3 6

KJC Secretariat Statistics Department 1 1

KJC/KJC SECRETARIAT TOTAL 1 23 19 3 46

Court – Immediate Disposition 5 3 8

Court – Criminal Cases 3 4 7

Court – Civil Cases 13 13

Court – Execution Cases 3 4 7

Court – USAID SEAD/KJC Initiative 1 2 3

COURT TOTAL 12 24 2 38

Supreme Court 1 4 5

Training 2 1 3

Ministry of Justice/Kosovo Assembly 4 4

TOTAL 13 50 29 4 96

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Commercial Court, Maintaining Electronic Case InventoriesGjilan Municipal Court, Review of Progress in Case Disposition

Case BacklogsModel Courts judge works to implement the National Backlog Reduction Strategy

Model Courts judge works to implement the National Backlog Reduction Strategy

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BUDGET AND FINANCEThrough the Model Courts Initiative, courts gained more responsibility in defining the content of the budget of the judiciary. Since 2009, courts have submitted their individual requests for inclusion into the annual budget proposal for the judiciary. The Initiative also worked with Model Courts and the Judicial Council Secretariat to procure new equipment to promote accountability in document intake and the use of IT for more effective case management as well as to upgrade file maintenance in the Central Records Management Office.

Uniform court fee schedule posted in all Model Courts

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Custom-made shelving, courtroom furniture, and cabinets in Peja District Court and Mitrovica District Court

Index cards, out cards and file folder labels

New color-coded, edge-tabbed file folders

Automatic time stamp use in Skenderaj Municipal Court and Mitrovica District Court

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COURT COMMUNI-CATIONSThrough the Model Courts Initiative, courts have launched a number of information and outreach programs to raise awareness, increase understanding, and change attitudes concerning the justice system. Brochures have been made available. Information desks have been established. Courts have developed partnerships with primary schools to teach young children about justice and the law. On Law Day (January), Constitution Day (April), and European Justice Day (October), courts now open their doors to citizens and students to discuss justice issues.

Ferizaj Municipal Court, Mission Statement

Peja District Court, brochure distribution in villages “Know Your Court”, brochure

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Meet your judge in Mitrovica District Court, Ferizaj Municipal Court, and Kamenica Municipal Court

Prizren Mu-nicipal Court, Memorandum of Coopera-tion with Law Faculty

Skenderaj Mu-nicipal Court, Learn about Justice Color-ing Book Series

Trial Simulations in the Commercial Court (Top), Gjilan Municipal Court (Left), and Gjakova Municipal Court (Right)

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FACILITY RENOVATIONSThe Model Courts Initiative renovated ten court facilities to meet the highest standards of transparency, access, and functional efficiency. Model Courts and their collocated partner courts now have modern courtrooms, Central Records Management Offices with custom-made shelving, information desks, directional signage, and public areas. With administrative services on the ground level and courtrooms on the first floor, judges are now more secure and have fewer interruptions in their daily work. The Model Courts in Kosovo are the most suitably equipped and accessible courts in the region.

Kamenica Municipal Court

Skenderaj Municipal Court, Renovated Public Area

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Ferizaj Municipal Court, Central Records Management Office Kamenica Municipal Court, Central Records Management Office

Gjakova Mu-nicipal Court, courtroom

Prizren Mu-nicipal Court, courtroom

Skenderaj Mu-nicipal Court, Information Desk

Gjilan Mu-nicipal Court, Information BoardPeja District Court, Directory

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Model Courts Consortium Meeting Model Courts Consortium Meeting

Model Courts Consortium Meeting

MEETINGS AND VISITSThe Model Courts Initiative was designed and implemented under the guidance of the Consortium of Model Courts. Model Courts Presidents and Administrators met as a Consortium every six to eight weeks to decide on reforms to test in their courts, recommend best practices to implement in all courts, and discuss success and challenges with reforms. Interoffice visits were organized between Model Courts to facilitate the exchange of information on reforms. Official inaugurations were held in all newly renovated court buildings in 2009-2011.

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Model Court inauguration ceremony in Gjakova Model Court inauguration ceremony in Prizren

Learn about Justice coloring book project Memorandum of Understand-ing signing ceremony in Gjilan

Commercial Court & Priz-ren Municipal Court interof-fice site visit

Skenderaj Mu-nicipal Court & Mitrovica Courts interof-fice site visit

Skenderaj Mu-nicipal Court & Mitrovica Courts interof-fice site visit

The Model Courts Initiative was made possible with support by the Justice Support Program funded by USAID. Justice Support Program staff provided critical support to the design, implementation, and dissemination of Model Courts best practices. Special recognition is given to:

Albert Avdiu, Legal Advisor, for his contribution in the fields of general organization, human resources, and ethics;

Enver Fejzullahu, Sr. Court Administration Specialist & Renovation Coordinator, for his contribution in the fields of records management, case flow management, court access and security, and the renovation of the courthouses;

Florije Manaj-Zogaj, Court Administration Specialist, for her contribution in the fields of public communications, and outreach;

Gazmend Mejzini, Court Administration Specialist, for his contribution in the fields of logistics and budget planning;

Violaine Autheman, Model Courts Coordinator, for her contribution to the design and programmatic support of the Model Courts initiative.

Commercial Courtwww.gjykata-ks.org/ekonomikeSuzana Sejdiu (President)Nysret Arifi (Administrator)Fitim Rexhepi (Info. Coordinator)

Ferizaj Municipal Courtwww.gjykata-ks.org/ferizaj Bashkim Hyseni (President)Sejdi Sadiku (Administrator)

Gjakova Municipal Courtwww.gjykata-ks.org/gjakove Afijete Sada-Gllogjani (President)Rudin Elezi (Administrator)

Gjilan Municipal Courtwww.gjykata-ks.org/gjilan Ramiz Azizi (President)Shemsije Kadriu (Administrator)Flora Bajrami (Info. Coordinator)

Kamenica Municipal Courtwww.gjykata-ks.org/kamenica Zijadin Spahiu (President)Valbona Dervodelli (Administrator)

Mitrovica District Courtwww.gjykata-ks.org/mitrovice Xhevdet Abazi (President)Lumnije Surdulli (Administrator)

Peja District Courtwww.gjykata-ks.org/peje Salih Mekaj (President)Muhamet Asanaj (Administrator)

Pristina Municipal Courtwww.gjykata-ks.org/prishtine Makifete Saliuka (Acting President)Naser Hoxha (Administrator)

Prizren Municipal Courtwww.gjykata-ks.org/prizren Hezër Duja (President)Nexhibe Bala (Administrator)

Skenderaj Municipal Courtwww.gjykata-ks.org/skenderaj Isa Shala (President)Rrahim Gashi (Administrator)Shaban Hajra (Info. Coordinator)

Kosovo Judicial Councilwww.kgjk-ks.org Enver Peci (President)Aishe Qorraj-Berisha (Spokesperson)

For more information on the Model Courts:

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BY THE STANDARDSThe Model Courts in Pictures

Prod

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Cov

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2008 - 2011