EWMI’s Good Governance Activity in Montenegro (GG Activity) launched the Court Improvement Plan at the Basic Court in Podgorica in January 2011 to improve the internal court case management system, enrich client services, and enhance public relations efforts. With contribution from all segments of the court, the plan will improve public perception through increased efficiency and transparency in each daily function. As a key component to the plan, in May 2011, the Change Management Team from the court participated in a study tour throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), meeting with several Bosnian courts that had engaged in the successful implementation of reforms through the EWMI-administered Justice Sector Development Project. The tour began with a meeting with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia dedicated to discussing the main accomplishments and challenges of the recent reform process in BiH. The team then visited four courts to learn more about court management and organization through enhanced court automation and internal controls, records management practices, archiving procedure, backlog reduction strategies, the function of public relations officers, and budgetary and finance practices. Upon returning to Montenegro, the team held study tour presentations for judges and court staff to share what they had learned. The presentations gave the court management team an opportunity to express their dedication and confidence with regard to achieving intended program objectives and to ensure that the court administrative staff enjoys the same level of confidence in the intended changes in regular court operations. In the end, the study tour was an essential step to achieving buy-in and acceptance of the objectives of the Court Improvement Plan and cemented the Change Management Team’s resolve that the goals of the Plan were vital for the successful future operations of the Court and most importantly achievable given their current resource limitations.
Bosnian Court Leaders Share Knowledge With Montenegrin Counterparts