Judge and Prosecutor at the same time!

Belgrade, Dec. 28, 2009, (Serbia Today) – According to a report from daily Danas (Today) of a press conference held by the Justice System Workers Union, there were many legal and ethical improprieties in the recent reevaluation and reelection of judges at all levels of the Serbian judicial system.
Union President Slavica Zivanovic told reporters of the appointment in Valjevo of Biljana Jankicevic as Judge of the Primary Court and as Assistant Prosecutor of the same Court Circuit, both positions to be held at the same time! The High Council of Justice made other mistakes as well, reappointing deceased or retired judges and failing to reappoint respected, experienced judges without explanation.
Witnessing these improprieties and doubting, perhaps, the independence of the judicial system from the political, a number of highly qualified legal professionals have recently left the Justice Department and the Court System to work in the legal departments of large companies or in a private Law Firms.
Members of the Justice System Workers Union appealed to President Boris Tadic to annul the results of the reelections and to request the High Council to do their work over again without improprieties. Of course this would itself be illegal, but the appeal does bring into contrast President Tadic’s statement that there were no political pressures in the election of judges.