Visit JCPCLord Reed delivers keynote speech marking Montenegrin Court anniversary
Lord Reed delivers keynote speech marking Montenegrin Court anniversary
On Friday 20th June the President of the UK Supreme Court Lord Reed, was in the Montenegrin capital Podgorica to deliver the keynote address at a conference entitled “From Traditional to European Judiciary”. Lord Reed was there at the invitation of the Supreme Court of Montenegro, with the support of the British Embassy and the AIRE centre. Over 170 participants, including civil society and international organisations were in attendance to hear him speak on the values of judicial transparency and communication, as he joined political and judicial leaders in marking the 80th anniversary of Montenegro’s apex court.
In his address Lord Reed reflected on what transparency meant in a judicial environment, suggesting that although physically opening the courts to the public – as the UK Supreme Court is – was part of the answer, it more widely rested on making the work of the courts fully accessible to the public, and having effective means of communication between the courts and the public. That communication helps to build confidence and trust in the judiciary, meaning the public are then more likely to accept judicial decisions.
Lord Reed’s full address to the conference can be read here.
Lord Reed then took part in a panel conversation and Q&A with the President of the Montenegro Supreme Court, Valentina Pavličić, and the President of the Judicial Council, Radoje Korać, which was moderated by Biljana Braithwaite, Director of the AIRE Centre’s Western Balkans Programme.
Later in the morning Lord Reed had a private conversation with the President of Montengro Jakov Milatović, and then met the Minister of Justice Bojan Božović for a conversation about the link between confidence in the courts, a prosperous economy and a stable country. This was their second meeting, as Mr Božović visited the UK Supreme Court in London in January as part of a wider Montenegrin delegation.
Other participants in the conference included the UK Ambassador Dawn McKen, and Johann Sattler, the EU Ambassador to Montenegro. Montengro hopes to join the EU in the future, and part of the accession process involves improving its judicial standards.
Later in the day the Court’s Head of External Affairs & Communications John McManus held a workshop for judges and judicial press staff on the theme of improving communications and reputational issues with the media and public, based on best practice in London.
Lord Reed was very happy to share his expertise and knowledge with his Montenegrin peers, and is looking forward to meeting them again – particularly in October, when Valentina Pavličić will join him and other senior judges for the opening of the Legal Year in Westminster. The invitation to attend the conference in Podgorica reflected the level of respect for the UK Supreme Court, and enabled it to contribute to developing and upholding the rule of law in the western Balkans.