Judges, prosecutors, and lawyers in Novi Sad will hold a protest on February 2 at 11:00 AM in front of the courthouse on Sutjeska Street against the adoption of the so-called “Mrdić Laws”.
The controversial judicial reform laws were proposed by SNS MP Uglješa Mrdić and passed by the Serbian National Assembly on January 28, coming into effect after being published in the Official Gazette on January 30, despite warnings from the European Union to review and align the legislation with European standards.
Some judges in Belgrade, as well as lawyers, have also joined calls for a work stoppage in protest of the reforms.
Aleksandar Olenik, lawyer and vice president of the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, criticized the Bar Associations of Belgrade and Serbia for their muted response, questioning whether other judges and prosecutors supported the reforms or feared President Aleksandar Vučić.
Milimir Lukić, judge at the Belgrade Court of Appeals, told Insajder that the protest is a response to the laws, which he claims seriously undermine the legal order, the dignity of the courts, and the position of judicial officials. He noted that warnings came not only from the High Judicial Council but also from the High Prosecutorial Council, bar associations, and the European Commission, yet they were ignored.
During the protest, Lukić said he will limit his judicial work to urgent cases only, particularly where basic human rights are at risk, following a model previously used during lawyers’ strikes.
The Judiciary Trade Union called on judges and prosecutors to immediately participate in the work stoppage as a legitimate, constitutionally based, and lawful means to defend judicial independence and the rule of law.
