Newly-elected judges of district and municipal courts took the oath of office before the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Predrag Markovic.

The oath-taking was attended by the Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court of Serbia, Vida Petrovic-Skero, and the Minister of Justice, Zoran Stojkovic.

Congratulating the judges on their election, Mr Markovic underlined that the National Assembly, as the highest legislative body, has insisted, and will continue to insist on independence for the judiciary, but that it was the judges themselves who had to struggle to attain it, through their work in these ‘difficult times’. He invited the judges to do their share in giving meaning to the ‘four Ss’ of the Serbian coat of arms: in his interpretation, the ‘letters’ should stand for stability, solidarity, and standards, but also for self-restraint that leads to adherence to laws and the Constitution.

Expressing in his turn best wishes to the judges, Mr Stojkovic said that it gave him pleasure to see the election of such a large number of young professionals, adding that they faced a task of great magnitude and responsibility – contributing, through their work, to the return of dignity to their profession.

Stressing that the Supreme Judicial Council had nominated the best, and that the National Assembly had elected the nominees, Ms Petrovic-Skero added that she was certain that the new judges would dispense justice in a fair and impartial manner, within reasonable deadlines, and independently of other branches of government; and that this would in turn improve the quality of Serbia’s justice system.