1. Mr. Vaton Durguti (Court President, Basic Court of Gjakova)
LEADING CHANGE MANAGEMENT IN COURTS: Informatization of Judiciary (experience from Kosovo)
Mr. Vaton Durguti
(Court President, Basic Court of Gjakova)

2. Legal basis for appointment of Court Presidents
Constitution of Kosovo: Art. 103 para. 5, Court Presidents shall be appointed under the procedure set forth in the Law
Law on Kosovo Judicial Council: Art. 22 para. 2, Court Presidents shall be appointed in consultation with judges of the respective Court
KJC Regulation on Procedure of Appointment, Evaluation, Suspension and Dismissal of Court Presidents and Supervisory Judges: Art. 8 para. 1 after voting , Kosovo Judicial Council shall propose the President of the Republic appointment of the candidate for the President of the Supreme Court of Kosovo, and
Art. 8 para. 2, after voting, Kosovo Judicial Council shall appoint the President of the Appeals Court and Court Presidents of Basic Courts and Supervisory Judges

3. Responsibilities of Basic Court Presidents
Law on Courts: Art. 12 para. 3 & 4
Court President shall assign judges, including the Supervisory Judges
Court President shall assign judges into departments to ensure efficient handling of cases and may temporarily re-assign judges into branches and departments, if needed
Court President shall address conflicts, request handling of backlogged cases and ensure timely handling of issues

4. Responsibilities of Appeals Court President
Law on Courts: Art. 20 para. 3
Appeals Court President shall assign judges into departments to ensure efficient handling of cases, if needed;
Appeals Court President may temporarily re-assign judges into Departments to handle unfinished cases or to ensure timely handling of cases;
Appeals Court President to assign, if needed Heads of Departments to ensure efficient Court actions;
Appeals Court President shall ensure that each cases submitted before Appeals Court shall be assigned a three (3) member college and assign the Chair of the said college;

5. Responsibilities of Supreme Court President
Law on Courts: Art. 21 para. 7
Supreme Court President is in charge for managing and business of Supreme Court;
Supreme Court President , if needed shall assign judges to ensure efficient handling of cases;
Supreme Court President shall ensure that each case submitted before Supreme Court shall be assigned an adequate college of judges and assign the Chair of the said college

6. Responsibilities of Court Presidents related to court management (p.1)
KJC Regulation on Internal Organization of Courts: Art. 4
Court President shall direct and oversee the activities, organization and daily activities of court judicial administration pursuant to law in force;
Court President shall authorize and initiate recruitment and disciplinary action for non-judicial staff pursuant to law in force;
Court President shall exercise overall administrative authority and ensure efficient and effective administration over court branches, departments and divisions;
Court President shall assign and re-assign judges into departments and divisions based on qualifications to ensure efficient handling of cases;
Court President shall assign judges in individual cases and equally in respective branches and from court branches to Basic Courts when this is necessary to ensure efficient functioning of courts.

7. Responsibilities of Court Presidents related to court management (p.2)
Court President shall draw annual plans on case management, assignment of cases to departments and judges; draw annual backlog reduction plans, if needed;
Court President shall submit quarterly written reports on court performance (which are published), unfinished cases, problems concerning courts and propose adequate measures.
Basic Court President shall organize oversee and control the execution of criminal sanctions on monthly basis;
Court President shall, if needed, assign heads of departments to ensure efficient actions from courts;
Court President and Supervisory Judge ensure that each cases has been assigned a judge, a college and its chair pursuant to law in force.

8. Responsibilities of Court Presidents related to court management (p.3)
Court President shall ensure that court processes are open and transparent for public, including access to persons from minorities living in Kosovo;
Court President shall convene yearly judges’ meeting to discuss issues related to administration of justice within the court, issues of organization, issues of practice and procedure, achievements and every problem facing the administration of the said court. Court President shall issue a report for the KJC on results of the meeting;
Court President or person authorized shall be responsible to communicate with public on all questions concerning cases and other issues related to the work of the court;
Court President may in written delegate specific administrative duties to court administrator;
In absence of Court President his/her duties shall be exercised by the Deputy Court President.

9. Introduction and implementation of Case Management Information System platform
Kosovo Judicial Council with the funding of Norwegian Embassy in Kosovo in 2013 launched the Case Management Information System platform;
Platform at hand aims to create the grounds for a more efficient, transparent and accountable judicial system in Kosovo through the use Information Technology;
Platform will transform Kosovo Courts into E-Courts;
Through the use of CMIS technology proactive court management shall be based on reports and real time data;
Court services shall be provided online for citizens through the creation of judicial web-portal.

10. Court President guardian of the successful implementation of the case management system
Court Presidents pursuant to law in force are key players for implementation of case management system by exercising their overall administrative authority over Courts;
Through Case Management Information System platform Court President not only draws strategies, specific actions and annual working plans but also plays a crucial role in monitoring the case management tools;
Case management system tools increases Court planning capacities, better predictability and prospective action;

11. Court President as ‘agent of change’ leading organisational behaviour
Courts are very complex organizations subject to specific internal dynamics, therefore Court President shall be key to ensuring its efficient and effective functioning;
Law in force gives Court Presidents very broad authoritative powers in terms of court management;
Court President shall demonstrate strong leadership authority, demonstrable managerial skills and high level of commitment;
Court President shall be leading figures or ‘agent of change’ enabling organization transform itself by focusing on such matters as organizational effectiveness, improvement and development.

12. Thank you for your attention