Skopje Appellate Court faces critical shortage of judges and staff

Zoran Gerasimovski, the acting president of the Skopje Appellate Court, has reported a significant shortage of judicial staff, including judges, administrative personnel, and lay judges.

According to Gerasimovski, the court currently operates with 35 judges despite a required total of 51. Furthermore, only 101 out of 245 planned judicial service positions are filled. A critical shortage exists among lay judges, with only seven positions filled out of 32 planned. Gerasimovski attributed the lack of lay judges to a daily allowance of 570 denars that has remained unchanged since 2018.

Despite these personnel challenges, Gerasimovski stated that the court intends to remain efficient and up to date. Regarding concerns of corruption within the judiciary, he emphasized respect for the presumption of innocence in ongoing cases and noted that appropriate measures would be taken through competent institutions if suspicions arise.