Supreme Judicial Council Takes All Measures to Overcome Court Backlogs

The Supreme Judicial Council has actively begun addressing the issues present in the Judicial system since taking office, including a comprehensive assessment of the challenges within the judicial authority. Among other studies, a framework for improving the efficiency of justice in the Republic of Armenia has been developed and published along with the annual report of the Supreme Judicial Council.

In these documents, the issue of backlogs in the courts and the underlying circumstances has been studied in detail, among other problems present in the judicial authority system. Based on the conducted studies, the Supreme Judicial Council has formulated its vision regarding overcoming and preventing the backlog problem in courts, alongside identifying strategic directions for actions to be undertaken as priorities.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, within the framework of effective cooperation between the Supreme Judicial Council and the Ministry of Justice, it has been possible to include the necessary actions identified as a result of the above-mentioned studies in the Government's decision No. 1441-L dated October 10, 2019, on 'The 2019-2023 Strategy and Action Plans for Judicial and Legal Reforms in the Republic of Armenia.'

This has been reported by the press service of the Supreme Judicial Council. Currently, measures are being taken to fully implement the idea of an electronic justice system. Just recently, on May 14, 2020, with decision BDC-27-0-59, the electronic distribution of payment orders was introduced experimentally at the First Instance General Jurisdiction Court of Yerevan.

In summary, it is essential to note that the Supreme Judicial Council acknowledges the existence of backlogs in the courts of Armenia today, and within its mandate, is undertaking all possible measures to overcome and prevent these backlogs. This includes considering the potential impact of legislative improvements, the establishment of an electronic justice system, increasing the number of judges, the efficiency of annual mandatory retraining programs for judges, effective time management by judges, and other factors in the process of alleviating court backlogs.

In light of the above, the Supreme Judicial Council emphasizes the necessity of strictly adhering to workplace discipline in courts and believes that examining the practice of maintaining this discipline and its quantitative effect on the current court backlogs is also a pertinent issue.

Based on these findings and the legal regulations of Chapter 7 of the Constitutional Law 'On the Judicial Code of the Republic of Armenia,' as well as considering the importance and necessity of promptly relieving the courts from backlogs, the Supreme Judicial Council urges the presidents of the courts to assist in addressing the backlog issue and ensuring the normal operation of the courts:

1. From the moment of publication of this statement, actively take measures with the tools provided to the presidents of the courts under Chapter 7 of the Constitutional Law 'On the Judicial Code of the Republic of Armenia' to ensure strict adherence to workplace discipline by judges and court staff (including timely reporting to and leaving from the workplace).
2. Provide information regarding the maintenance of workplace discipline by judges and court staff and the position of the court president on this matter to the Supreme Judicial Council on a monthly basis for the purpose of analysis, conducting discussions as necessary, and taking the appropriate actions.