In the cooperation of Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Serbia with logistical and financial support of UNDP, USAID and ABA CEELI on November 13-15, 2006 in Vrnjacka Banja, Hotel “Breza”, Annual Meeting of Magistrates of Republic of Serbia was held for the third year in a row.

The Meeting was cordially open by the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Serbia, Zoran Stojković, Miss Julia Roig, CEELI Director, and Bojana Solevic, MoJ Misdemeanor Coordinator. Deputy Minster Zivka Spasic and Judicial Training Center Director Nenad Vujic also gave introductory remarks. Minister Stojkovic stressed the importance of successful incorporation of misdemeanor bodies into the judicial system of Serbia and announced the change of climate of executive branch towards the misdemeanor, who should be treated as professional judges from 2007. CEELI Director Julia Roig expressed gratitude to all magistrates that were involved in numerous CEELI and MAS trainings and projects in last three years, including DV and HT trainings, Domestic Violence and Economic Aspect of Misdemeanor Law Surveys, and Support to the Misdemeanor System Project - Practical trainings. Several media were present at the event, including the National Broadcasting Network, radio Vrnjacka Banja and local Krusevac Newspaper.

More then 320 magistrates from all over Serbia attended the event. The accent of this year Annual Meeting was related to interpretation of the New Law of Misdemeanor and preparation of magistrates in becoming professional judges. The new law is bringing much more closely the misdemeanor proceedings to criminal procedure law, a substance that is not related to magistrates according to the positive law. As a consequence, the misdemeanor proceedings will become much more complex and probably longer. Aldo the new law equals the misdemeanor judges with professional judges and the positive administrative to criminal proceedings it is unclear at this point will magistrates be able to accept this radical changes on time and successfully prepare. One of the major changes in work of magistrates is currency and tax misdemeanors that will get in their jurisdiction starting 2007. These matters will bring magistrates much closely to economic aspect of judicial system for which they need to be prepared as well.

In addition, one part of the meeting was reserved to juvenile justice that will be partly in jurisdiction of magistrates and for those subjects, the most prominent lecturers of JTC were engaged. The discussion reviled that this topic needs more attention of the magistrates as they are unprepared. The lecturers brought attention to some differences and similarities between Old and New Law and provisions that are not very clear. Magistrates were very interested in subject meter and all lectures were full attended.

The second day, November 14, traditional CEELI day was reserved for six different lectures from regular Agenda. Moreover, the Annual Meeting of Association of Magistrates (MAS) was held that day. Judge Ljubo Simic, President of the Assembly and Judge Milenko Mijic, President of the Managing Board opened and led the event. About 170 magistrates participated at the Assembly. The previous narrative and financial period (Oct 2005- Oct 2006) was presented to the membership and ongoing events announced. CEELI also received credits by all MAS participants as the most important donor in area of misdemeanor. The mayor concern was related to upcoming reelection (magistrates are elected by the Government on eight year term) of judges and general election proscribed in the Constitutional Law and the lack of transparent and objective regulations of this meter. It is expected that the number of 800 magistrates will be cut down to about 550 according to the new network of midsummer courts.