Williamson’s: Foreign judges are in BiH Const. Court because of RS authorities

RS President Milorad Dodik has repeatedly dismissed the court as “incomplete,” claiming it cannot issue valid rulings without RS-appointed judges. However, legal analysts note this stance comes after numerous court decisions found RS policies unconstitutional.

At a high-profile meeting in Sarajevo on Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador and Brcko Arbitral Tribunal Chair John Clint Williamson discussed the court's continued presence of international judges with Constitutional Court President Seada Palavric and Brcko Supervisor Louis J. Chrishock. The officials concluded that Dodik’s government bears primary responsibility for this.

“Every attack on the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina affects its entire territory, including the Brcko District,” the meeting participants stated, emphasizing that instability in any region threatens the entire country.

Ambassador Williamson expressed particular concern about RS’s persistent challenges to the court’s authority and the entity’s failure to implement its rulings. The diplomat noted this obstruction ironically reinforces the need for international judges to preserve judicial independence.

The constitutional crisis stems from RS’s long-standing boycott of judge nominations, despite being obligated to appoint three of the court’s nine members. Legal experts warn this impasse undermines Bosnia’s judicial system and the Dayton Peace Agreement framework.

The meeting also addressed concerns about recent attacks on Bosnia’s constitutional order, with Williamson revealing he accelerated his visit because of these developments. Officials stressed that stability in the strategically important Brčko District remains tied to respect for state institutions.