At the meeting, KJC member Ahmet Imami presented the full course of the electoral process, stressing that it was carried out according to the plan and calendar approved by the Council, as well as under the monitoring of international partners and civil society.

“This has been a lengthy process across both dates on which it was held, but allow me to briefly present this chronology. As we all know, the Judicial Council approved the election dates in the country’s basic courts. Based on the plan and calendar, the Commission organized the process as follows: on 16 June, elections were held at the Basic Court in Prishtina. Of the four nominated candidates, the candidate qualified in the election vote was Judge Valentina Sopjani. On 17 June, the Commission organized elections at the Basic Court in Gjilan and in Ferizaj. In Gjilan, we did not have a successful candidate to qualify for the election vote, while in Ferizaj it was Judge Ilir Bytyqi. On 18 June, the Commission organized elections at the Basic Court in Mitrovica and in Peja. In Mitrovica, the qualified candidate was Judge Agron Maxhuni, while in Peja, the qualified candidate was Judge Besnik Shala. Then on 19 June, the Commission organized elections at the Basic Court in Prizren, where according to the result of 19 June, the successful candidate qualified for the election vote was Judge Diona Bajrami. On 22 June, the Commission received an email in which the candidate, namely Judge Besnik Shala, withdrew from the race. The Commission approved the final list of qualified candidates for 23 June, who were: Judge Agron Maxhuni from the Basic Court in Mitrovica, Vushtrri branch; Judge Diona Bajrami from the Basic Court in Prizren; Judge Ilir Bytyqi from the Basic Court in Ferizaj; and Judge Valentina Sopjani from the Basic Court in Prishtina. On 23 June, the election vote was held, where according to the result, among these four qualified candidates, the ones who received sufficient votes to be elected members of the Judicial Council were Judge Agron Maxhuni and Judge Valentina Sopjani. It is important to emphasize that both in the elections held in the basic courts and in the electoral assembly, we had monitoring from international partners and civil society. It is also worth noting that the entire election voting process was broadcast live on the Council’s website. A novelty in this process was that every counted vote was displayed on screen and all participants in the assembly had the opportunity to see how the counting proceeded. Before proposing that the Council certify the results, I wish to express my gratitude to the members of the judicial commission, Judge Afërdita Bytyqi and Judge Fahret Velija, as well as the support staff, who never spared any effort to contribute to ensuring that the process was conducted in the best possible way. Therefore, based on the explanation I have given, I propose that the Judicial Council certify the results, in which the elected candidates, respectively the new members elected from this electoral process, are Judge Agron Maxhuni and Judge Valentina Sopjani,” he said.

Following this presentation, the KJC approved the certification of the results and formally confirmed the election of Judge Agron Maxhuni and Judge Valentina Sopjani as the newest members of the Council from the ranks of judges.

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Sopjani, who comes from the Basic Court in Prishtina, secured 212 votes, while Maxhuni, from the Vushtrri branch of the Basic Court in Mitrovica, received 204 votes.

Diora Bajrami from the Basic Court in Prizren and Ilir Bytyqi from the Basic Court in Ferizaj also ran for these two seats, receiving 64 and 84 votes respectively.

Of the 354 judges, 303 who had the right to vote in this electoral process were present in the hall.

The elections were held after internal processes conducted at the Basic Courts in Prishtina, Ferizaj, Mitrovica, Peja and Prizren. The chairman of the Election Commission, Ahmet Imami, announced that yesterday they had received an email informing them that Judge Besnik Shala had withdrawn from the race.

For the two members elected from the ranks of the Basic Courts, judges from these courts, the first-instance chambers of the Commercial Court and the Administrative Court were eligible to run, with the exception of judges from the Basic Court in Gjakova.

Currently, the Kosovo Judicial Council has 11 members, although it is supposed to have 13. For one member from the ranks of the Supreme Court, the process is continuing in line with legal procedures, while the Assembly of Kosovo must also elect another member to complete the KJC’s composition.

The mandate of the two new members will begin on July 8, one day after the mandate of the two current members ends.

Before voting began, Judge Maxhuni pledged that he would work with responsibility and strong dedication to implementing the fundamental principles set out in the Constitution of Kosovo and the legislation in force related to the Judicial Council.

Maxhuni: At the KJC, I will support decisions that ensure fair courts

“As a member of the KJC, I will contribute to ensuring independence in the exercise of the Council’s functions, as well as financial independence, which is a key element in securing conditions for judges. As a member, I will support every decision that ensures independence and that ensures courts are fair, apolitical, accessible and professional. Likewise, that courts respect the principles established on human rights, especially those affirmed through the country’s Constitution and international instruments that are directly applicable in Kosovo. Within the Council, I will support all ongoing processes, and I will also support the development of strategic policies related to reform of the judicial system in Kosovo, based on the highest contemporary standards set by the Council of Europe and the European Union. It is necessary and essential to work on several different aspects to advance the judicial system in Kosovo, including ensuring equal access for all citizens without distinction, increasing efficiency and timeliness within the justice system, strengthening institutional and individual accountability, and enhancing and protecting the integrity and independence of judges as the foundation of public trust in decision-making,” he said.

On the other hand, Judge Sopjani said that the KJC should represent the voice of judges, be their main supporter and the institution that ensures conditions for professional and efficient work.

Sopjani: The KJC should be the voice of judges and the institution that ensures conditions for efficient work

“Throughout the years of serving as a judge, I have understood that the strength of a judicial system is not measured only by the laws at its disposal, but above all by the conditions, support and independence offered to judges to carry out their mission. A judge who is professionally supported and protected from any external influence is the best guarantee of justice, quality and public trust. Therefore, my candidacy is mainly based on these principles. I believe that the role of a KJC member should above all be in the service of judges and the judicial system. The Council should be the voice of judges, their main supporter and the institution that creates conditions for efficient and professional work,” she said.

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