Today in Zlatibor, Justice Minister Nela Kuburović, the Serbian Bar Association President Viktor Gostiljac and representatives of the Republic Prosecutor’s Office signed a Protocol on Exchanging Information in the Ex Officio Public Defenders’ Appointment Procedure. The Protocol regulates in detail the procedure of appointing an ex officio attorney which will be conducted exclusively through a competent authority from now on. This entails establishing a unique, i.e. designated call-centre.
On the occasion, Minister Kuburović noted that the Ministry of Justice was actively cooperating with the attorneys through an open dialogue and by working together on matters of mutual interest for the attorneys’ profession and the entire judiciary. She added that the signed Protocol was another positive result of a solid cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and the Bar Associations.
The signed Protocol stipulates that courts and prosecution offices call the designated call-centre to inform who from the list of attorneys are next to be appointed ex officio public defenders. The Protocol was signed during the First Attorney Consultation opening ceremony - organised by the Belgrade Bar Association – where attorneys will discuss their constitutional status, the Free Legal Aid Act, audio recording of all trials and other matters.