International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) - Public Campaign in Support of Judicial Reforms

Period/Duration: 04.01.2016-07.31.2016

Amount: $29,929

Project description: The project aimed to promote institutional reforms in the court system by supporting the Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary Public Campaign.  The Campaign primarily addressed the problems in the judicial selection and appointment process. It also raised such issues as the flaws of the judicial disciplinary liability and case assignment systems. The Campaign included different activities such as development of recommendations for legislative reforms, legal actions, meetings with different stakeholders, development of visual/media products, and active interaction with media.   The campaign mobilized public opinion to reduce the abuse of power by the High Council of Justice (HCOJ), a key body in the administration of justice.  It promoted the idea of the temporary suspension of the deeply problematic selection and appointment process.  In the longer run, the project intended to result in the adoption of legal amendments which will create the basis for the merit-based, impartial and transparent appointment process, timely introduction of the random case assignment system, and improved regulations governing the disciplinary proceeding powers of HCOJ.