Court of BiH claims: We have paid the lawyers, no more reasons for work stoppage

(Patria) - The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced that funds have been paid to defense counsel appointed ex officio.

"In order to properly inform the public, and regarding the stated reasons for the decision to suspend the work of lawyers from the Bar Associations of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska, we inform citizens that, as previously announced, the Court of BiH has settled all obligations towards lawyers – defense counsel appointed ex officio as soon as the budget funds for 2024 became operational.

A total of 1,384,359.48 KM was paid in 2024, of which the costs of defense counsel appointed ex officio amounted to 1,303,685.55 KM, and costs based on acquittals amounted to 80,673.93 KM. Of this total amount, 460,531.71 KM was paid in the period January-July through available funds within operational plans during temporary financing, and after the adoption of the budget, 923,827.77 KM was paid.

Thus, as of August 7, 2024, the Court of BiH has settled all obligations received so far, due to which the Bar Associations of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska no longer have reasons for further suspension of work by defense counsel appointed ex officio before the Court of BiH, especially bearing in mind that the Court of BiH cannot influence, nor is it competent for, the amendment and supplementation of the Decision of the Council of Ministers on compensation for costs of criminal proceedings according to the Law on Criminal Procedure of BiH in the form of the requested increase in the lawyers' tariff," it was stated.