Judicial Independence in Kosovo. A Critical Analysis of Select Provisions of the Law on Courts

Haxhi Xhemajli; Xhevdet Halili; Tristin Kilgallon

doi:10.7336/academicus.2020.22.10

Authors

Haxhi Xhemajli Faculty of Law, University of Maribor, Slovenia
Xhevdet Halili Faculty of Law, University of Pristina, Kosovo 0000-0003-0622-2758
Tristin Kilgallon Ohio Northern University, USA 0000-0001-9164-5194

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7336/academicus.2020.22.10

Abstract

As the Republic of Kosovo continues to develop as independent state, the world watches closely. Of particular interest to many is whether Kosovo will truly embrace the rule of law or whether it’s growth will continue to be hampered by the long shadow of corruption. As the judiciary plays a central role in ensuring the rule of law is implemented and followed, it is critical that judges are free to exercise their judicial power freely and without fear of recourse from other members of the government, or the public. To this end, the newly revised Law on Courts is a key piece of legislation, as it specifies the qualifications, rights, and duties of the judges. This paper will analyze key provisions of the Law on Courts, paying special attention to how they impact judicial independence.

Keywords:

law on courts, judicial independence, initial training, corruption, judicial compensation, protection

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References

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Caroline Van Rijckeghem & Beatrice Weder, Bureaucratic Corruption and the Rate of Temptation: Do Wages in the Civil Service Affect Corruption, and by How Much? 65 J. of Dev. Econ, (2001).
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References

Donald J. Harris, Charlotte L Kirschner, Kristina Klatt Rozek, & Neil Alan Weiner, Violence in the Judicial Workplace: One State’s Experience 576 ANNALS of the Am. Acad. of Pol. and Soc. Sci. (2001).

Caroline Van Rijckeghem & Beatrice Weder, Bureaucratic Corruption and the Rate of Temptation: Do Wages in the Civil Service Affect Corruption, and by How Much? 65 J. of Dev. Econ, (2001).

U.S. Dep’t of State, Bureau of Democracy, H.R. and Lab., Kosovo 2018 Human Rights Report 17 (2018).

Amnesty International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2018, https://www. transparency.org/cpi2018.

Ehat Miftaraj, Betim Musliu & Hyrije Mehmeti, Integrity of Justice System in the Fight Against Corruption 25 (2018).

U.N. Secretary-General, Report of the Secretary General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, U.N. Doc.S/2018/981 (Nov. 1, 2018).

Die Morina & Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), Kosovo MP Arrested for “Intimidating Prosecutor”, Balkan Insight (Sep. 27, 2018), https:// balkaninsight.com/2018/09/27/kosovo-mp-arrested-for-intimidating-aprosecutor-09-27-2018.

nd Kosovo Lawmaker Detained for Threatening Prosecutors, The Seattle Times, (Sep 28, 2018), https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/2nd-kosovolawmaker-detained-for-threatening-prosecutors/

Kosovo 2019 Report, COM (2019) 260 final (May 29, 2019).

FOL Movement, The Demand for Judicial Transparency 3, (Feb. 28, 2017).

Academy of Justice, Initial Training Program for the Newly Appointed Judges 2019/2020 4 (2019) (Kos.)

Charles A. Ericksen & Lavdim Krasniqi, The Challenges of Capacity Building in Judicial-Training Institutions – The Kosovo Experience, 4 J. of the Int’l Org. for Jud. Training, (2015).

Southeast European Leadership for Development and Integrity (SELDI), Assessment of Corruption in Kosovo 2016 18 (2016).

Labinot Leposhtica & Arber Kadriu, Corrupted Liberalization, (2018).

David M. Flores, Monica K. Miller, Jared Chamberlain, James T. Richardson, & Brian H. Bornstein, Judges’ Perspectives on Stress and Safety in the Courtroom: An Exploratory Study, 45 Ct. Rev.: The J. of the Am. Judges Ass’n, (2009).

Academy of Justice, Organizational Chart, https://ad.rks-gov.net/en/ organizational-chart. (Kos.)

UNDP Kosovo, Public Pulse on Corruption 3 (October, 2016).

Ting Gong & Alfred M. Wu, Does Increased Civil Service Pay Deter Corruption? Evidence from China, 32 Rev. of Pub. Personnel Admin. (2012).

Xe.com, Xe Currency Convertor, https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/ [Euro to U.S. dollar exchange rates based on currency conversion rate of 1 USD = 0.911560 EUR on September 2, 2019].

The World Bank, International Comparison Program Database, GNI per capita, PPP (Current International $), https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP. PCAP.PP.CD.

Gazidede, Alkelina. “Practice of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the enforcement of courts’ final decisions.” Academicus International Scientific Journal 6.12 (2015): 38-46.

Paço, Spiro. “Sovereignity, statehood and self-determination in international law.” Academicus International Scientific Journal7.13 (2016): 184-204.

Kashta, Reida. “Corruption and innovation in the Albanian public procurement system.” Academicus International Scientific Journal 10 (2014): 212-225.

Besim Gollopeni, Kosovar Emigration: Causes, Losses and Benefits, 54 Soc. (2016).

Victoria Jennett, Corruption Risk Assessment of the Kosovo Judicial System 19 (May, 2017).

Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, Jun. 15, 2008.

Law on the Kosovo Judicial Council, Law No. 03/L-223 (2010) (Kos.) [Abolished by the Law on Kosovo Judicial Council, Law. No. 06/L-055, in 2018].

Law on Courts, Law No. 03/L-199 (2010) (Kos.) [This law was abolished by the Law on Courts, Law No. 06/L-054 in 2018].

Law on State Prosecutor, Law No. 03/L-225 (2010) (Kos.) [This law has since been amended and supplemented twice, once in 2015 by Law. 05/L-034, and again in 2018 Law. No. 06/L-025].

Law on the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, Law No. 03/L-224 (2010) (Kos.) [Abolished by the Law on Kosovo prosecutorial Council, Law No. 06/L-056 in 2018].

Law on Salaries in Public Sector, Law No. 06/L-111 (2019) (Kos.)