Recommendations of the HJPC of BiH to the judicial community regarding the epidemiological situation in the country

(Patria) - Due to the newly emerged epidemiological situation in the country caused by the COVID-19 virus, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC BiH) held a telephone session on March 15, 2020, during which recommendations were adopted for court presidents and chief prosecutors regarding the organization of work, as well as for the HJPC BiH and its operational bodies. The recommendations for court presidents and chief prosecutors on handling the epidemiological situation in the country are as follows:

➢ Compliance with the instructions and decisions of the competent crisis headquarters is mandatory for all employees in judicial institutions;
➢ It is necessary to consider the possibility of canceling scheduled hearings (court and prosecutorial) in the period from March 16 to April 3, 2020, except for those hearings that are legally prescribed as urgent or non-deferrable, and to urgently inform all participants in the proceedings thereof;
➢ It is necessary to consider the possibility of organizing work in institutions to the extent that ensures smooth operation and protection of employees;

In order to protect their own health and the health of all persons with whom they come into contact, the HJPC BiH suggests that all holders of judicial functions and employees in judicial institutions consistently and responsibly adhere to the decisions of court presidents and chief prosecutors. Regarding the further work of the HJPC BiH, the Council has established a mechanism for monitoring the situation and making timely decisions on all relevant issues related to the efficient and smooth operation of the judiciary.

A Decision on the working regime of the HJPC BiH was adopted, stating that the HJPC BiH will organize work in accordance with the instructions and decisions of the competent public authorities and crisis headquarters. It was decided to postpone all meetings of standing commissions and other working bodies of the HJPC BiH scheduled for the period up to April 3, 2020. Also, it was decided to postpone scheduled disciplinary hearings, candidate testing, and interviews with candidates planned for the said period. The Council will decide on the resumption of full-capacity work subsequently, by a separate decision.