Serbia advances judicial reform with new Judicial Academy law

Serbian Minister of Justice Nenad Vujić announced that the draft Law on the Judicial Academy, now in parliamentary procedure, represents a step forward in the country's judicial reform. The proposal received a positive opinion from the Venice Commission, confirming its alignment with Council of Europe standards and European Union recommendations under Chapter 23.

The law clarifies the Academy's role and its relationship with the High Council of the Judiciary (VSS) and the High Council of Prosecutors (VST), establishing a supervisory link. It creates a new Administrative Board of eleven members – nine judges and four prosecutors – with appointments split between the councils and the government. A Program Council of seventeen members will oversee specialized training.

A notable addition is mandatory pre‑service training for prospective judges and prosecutors, structured into four sub‑programs based on candidates' post‑exam experience, ranging from a 24‑month program for newcomers to shorter programmes for those with two to four years of experience.