OVERVIEW This Second Webinar Series is part of CEELI to Justice During and After the Pandemic Institute’s program with the Central and East – is particularly relevant to the judiciary European Judicial Exchange Network. The in the current climate, but also touches on CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPEAN Network, which has been going since 2012, is numerous access to justice issues that have JUDICIAL EXCHANGE NETWORK comprised of some of the best and brightest on-going relevance beyond the current young judges from eighteen countries who extraordinary circumstances. The first gather regularly to share best practices on series, which explored Videoconferencing issues of judicial independence, integrity, in support of Remote Access to Courts, WEBINAR DISCUSSION accountability, and court management. As took place bi-weekly between April 7 and SERIES #2 international in-person meetings are likely May 19 2020, and is available on-demand to be limited for some time to come, the to all Network members through the CEELI ACCESS TO JUSTICE Webinar Series ensures that the Network Online platform. To request a logon for can continue to meet its mandate to improve CEELI Online to access content please email DURING AND AFTER judicial integrity and court efficiency [email protected]. This second series THE PANDEMIC in Central and Eastern Europe, despite aims to build on the first by looking beyond the global lockdowns resulting from the videoconferencing to broader justice issues June/July 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The topic – Access raised by the pandemic. WEBINAR #1 In this first session, a number of judges SPEAKERS: from the Judicial Network shared firsthand TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2020 experience of running hearings by JUDGE VICTORIA SANDUTA, (75 MINUTES) videoconference. In the Western Balkan Chisinau Court, region, there are several developments in the Republic of Moldova field of remote trials, and the presentation from North Macedonia featured the endeavors JUDGE LAZAR NANEV, of the small courts which set the regional President of the Basic Court TOPIC: precedent by organizing and adopting the in Kavadarci, North Macedonia REMOTE JUDGING AND first remote trials. Speakers examined VIDEOCONFERENCING IN THE the protection of procedural rights of the defendants during these remote trials and JUDGE GJORGJI ANDONOV, COURTS – THE EXPERIENCE OF President of the Basic Court in Stip, the role of the Judicial Media Council of North Macedonia JUDGE’S IN MOLDOVA, NORTH North Macedonia in safeguarding judicial MACEDONIA AND GEORGIA transparency. Judge Bichia from Georgia outlined the types of cases that he deals with, ANDREJ BOZHINOVSKI, LLM, Legal Adviser at the the practical issues, and how he has adapted Macedonian Judges Association, his approach as his experience of working North Macedonia remotely has progressed. Judge Victoria Sanduta from Moldova provided an overview JUDGE SHOTA BICHIA, of how Moldova has used videoconferencing Zugdidi District Court, in their court proceedings. Georgia WEBINAR #2 This session, in partnership with the OSCE SPEAKERS: Office for Democratic Institutions and Human TUESDAY 16 JUNE 2020 Rights (ODIHR), explored how the courts (75 MINUTES) are preparing to function after pandemic ANDREA HUBER, conditions. ODIHR presented current research Deputy Chief, Rule of Law Unit, on the consequences of adopted emergency OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights measures and invited judges to further share their experience. What will be the effect of the TOPIC: unprecedented rate of suspended and delayed EXIT STRATEGIES cases? What new cases can the courts expect PROF. RACHEL MURRAY, & COURT MANAGEMENT to emerge as a result of the pandemic and the Director, Human Rights measures taken to control it? Many courts Implementation Centre School POST COVID-19 of Law, University of Bristol - were already struggling with delivering justice ODIHR consultant in a timely fashion – how should they be preparing for an even worse backlog? Can some of the measures that have been taken during the pandemic, such as the use of remote trials, be continued as a tool to expedite proceedings? What is the exit strategy? What lessons have we learned? WEBINAR #3 This week’s session began with a summary SPEAKERS: from Mr. Stephen Mason about the TUESDAY 30 JUNE 2020 development of electronic evidence, the available methods and tools, and a need for (75 MINUTES) MR. STEPHEN MASON, a conceptual change regarding judiciaries’ Barrister, views and interpretations of e-evidence. Do United Kingdom the established rules for paper evidence still apply? What are the benefits and complications TOPIC: of electronic evidence? Magistrate Santiago ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE AND Altamirano Escalante addressed the topic of DEALING WITH WITNESSES criminal justice for adolescents and juveniles MAGISTRATE SANTIAGO and his first-hand experiences with online ALTAMIRANO ESCALANTE, IN VIDEOCONFERENCE Yucatan, Mexico justice during the COVID-19 crisis in the HEARINGS State of Yucatan Mexico. Judge Bichia closed out the conversation with his experience and tips on utilizing remote tools for witness questioning. JUDGE SHOTA BICHIA, Zugdidi District Court, Georgia WEBINAR #4 This session takes a look at some of the very SPEAKERS: practical considerations that will come into TUESDAY 14 JULY 2020 play at the courts re-open. How will court (75 MINUTES) spaces need to be reoriented to keep staff and JUDGE KATICA ARTUKOVIC, users safe? What special considerations come Vice President Judges Association Federation play with into individuals in custody? How of Bosnia and Herzegovina will courts manage an increased backlog of cases? In addition, what elements of remote TOPIC: judging will remain in play and what are the AFTER THE CRISIS, WHAT potential challenges and risks associated with JACKIE BRYANT, WILL COURT OPERATIONS the use of technology for certain hearings in Clerk of Court and Court terms of safeguarding rights and adhering to Administrator for the Second LOOK LIKE? Judicial District Court, international standards. Washoe County, Nevada TIM MOLONEY QC, Doughty Street Chambers, London This project has been made possible www.ceeliinstitute.org through the generous support of the Bureau of nternational Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) at the U.S. Department of State. These sessions take place in the English language. Following each session, there is a summary of outcomes and recommendations. In addition, the Webinar series is hosted on our learning platform, CEELI Online, together with other supporting material or slides referred to by the speakers, as well as an archive containing many other resources and relevant links. Access to this closed, password protected group is provided for members of the CEE Judicial Network. Those that wish to secure access can email [email protected]. A discussion forum within the learning platform will also support conversation and peer-to-peer engagement beyond the limit of the actual webinars. You might also be interested to listen to our podcast series – ’CEELI talks’ - which touches on many of these subjects and is available to all at www.ceeliinstitute.org.