HJPC proposes case redistribution to tackle severe backlogs at Sarajevo cantonal court

HJPC President Sanin Bogunic highlighted that citizens currently wait five years or more for appeals to be resolved due to the court handling thousands of pending files. He praised the proposal from the Standing Commission for Courts, stating the measure aims to accelerate access to justice and significantly shorten resolution times over the coming year.

The proposal coincided with the presentation of judicial performance data for the first six months of 2026. Representatives from the Judicial Analytics and Reporting Department noted that while pending court cases decreased by 0.4 per cent compared to the same period last year, the overall number of resolved cases also dropped across all categories. In criminal justice, the statute of limitations expired in 121 cases, a reduction of 20 from the previous year. However, municipal and basic courts saw an increase in time-barred misdemeanor cases, reaching 482, driven primarily by traffic offenses in Sarajevo, Bihac, and Tuzla.

Prosecution offices reported a 5 percent increase in case inflows and a 3 percent rise in unresolved reports, alongside higher indictment numbers and a 1 per cent decline in convictions. Meanwhile, the Council deemed progress reports negative regarding complex organized crime and high-level corruption cases covered under two-year resolution plans. The HJPC noted that courts are now implementing new monitoring criteria and procedural instructions to increase trial velocity.

Additionally, the Council reviewed proceedings against suspended judicial office holders and announced that election procedures will soon begin for a new Council member to succeed Zeljka Fabic, whose term expires in April 2027.