Lack of Staff at Foundation Court in the North Still Challenge

From the resignations of judges and administrative staff at the basic court in northern Mitrovica, it is working with reduced staff, sessions are being held, but in only a few cases.

Lawyer Bledar Gashi says the hearings, which are being held in Albanian judges regularly but that other hearings, besides those of the detention measure, are not being realised.

” It's a little bit of a problem because there's a reduced staff, when we deliver our paperwork they're delaying until they go to the appeals court, but they're still working but with a very reduced body staff, Gashi said.

While the Kosovo Judiciary Council, in a response to RTK, has said that despite lack of staff in this court, it is functioning normally but difficult because of the smaller number of resources. As for the number of subjects, they say they will do analysis and act according to the need

Despite the difficulties the Foundation Court has in Mitrovica has with its branches, the lack of positions of judges and administrative and professional staff who have offered the resignations, the court is working with full commitment in order to overcome difficulties, but cannot be at the level of expectations for citizens. The number of subjects carried by the Constitutional Court in Mitrovica in basic courts is total, eighty-three (83) subjects.

The fact of the lack of 130 officials, both from judges and from the administrative staff belonging to Gj. Thuk Mitrovica with her branches, in Leposavic and Zubin Potok, creates difficulties, but it is very important to note, that the court, even with reduced numbers of human resources, still is in providing citizens' services within its capacity.

On this subject, a public discussion organised by the Democratic Culture Avocacy Centre was held during the day in northern Mitrovica.

Dusan Radakovic from this centre said it is expected that on 20 March there will be a return of those who resign, while another part is expected to return in June.

While Serbian lawyers complained that they are facing difficulties because of prolonged materials until they said citizens are able to receive services.

Nebojsa Vlajic, a lawyer, has said that citizens are finding it difficult to abandon institutions.

We're back in the first reintegration situation, in a multiethnic environment must all be multiethnic. Half the judges have abandoned him. Citizens cannot perform any jobs, such as divorces or claims that are not under investigation”, Vlajic added.

Serbs on this side also expect this problem to be resolved in order to speed up the solution of judicial subjects.