Montenegro judiciary faces scrutiny over misconduct reports and high-profile appeals

Legal professionals in Montenegro are addressing concerns regarding judicial integrity and accountability. Lawyer Marijana Laković has called for a thorough investigation into a report concerning the Podgorica Misdemeanor Court and its branches in Danilovgrad, Nikšić, and Cetinje. Laković emphasized that if the report's findings regarding improper conduct by judges or administrative staff are verified, those responsible should face both disciplinary and criminal proceedings.

In a separate but related legal development, defense attorneys for former Supreme Court President Vesna Medenica have filed an appeal against her ten-year prison sentence. Attorneys Zdravko Begović and Zdenka Tomanović argue that there is no evidence Medenica exerted unlawful influence on judges, noting that judges themselves testified they faced no such pressure. The defense is seeking to have the verdict overturned and the case returned to the court of first instance for a new trial, with hopes for a hearing by the end of the year.