Normalization of the work of courts due to the abolition of the state of emergency
On May 6, 2020, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia passed the Decision on the abolition of the state of emergency. The decision was published in the Official Gazette of Republic of Serbia on the same day and it also came into force on that day. Due to that, life can slowly return to normal flows.
On May 7, 2020, the High Court Council adopted a Conclusion in which it is determined that the conditions for the normal work of the courts are fulfilled, so that, starting from May 11, 2020., the courts on the territory of the Republic of Serbia will work regularly.
Of course, ending of the state of emergency does not mean that the epidemic caused by the COVID-19 virus has stopped. So, the danger is diminished, but it still exists. For that reason, the Conclusion predicts special measures for the following persons:
- Employees in the courts
- Parties who are coming to the court
- Members of the Judicial Guard
- Employees at the counters of courts, post offices and banks
- Employees in the kitchen
- Employees in the hygiene maintenance department
Before analyzing the provisions of the Law, it is necessary to explain the reasons of its adoption as well as some of the basic terms that it contains.
Prevention measures in the courts
When entering the building, the above-mentioned persons are obliged to respect the following measures:
- Passing through the deso barrier in order to disinfect shoes
- Disinfection of hands with asepsol
- Security inspection (passing through a metal door detector and security scanner device)
- Validation of personal identification card – applies only on employees, while parties who are coming to the courts must register by submitting a personal identification document and stating the reason for coming to the court building
- Wearing a hygienic mask that covers the nose and mouth well
- Wearing a hygienic gloves (recommended)
- Respect of safe distance measure, ie respect a physical distance from other persons of at least 1.5 meters – this also applies to all counters in court buildings, courtrooms and waiting rooms. The rule of priority must be respected while entering the courtroom. In that sense, defendants, lawyers and other invited persons enter first, while others are allowed to do that only if it is possible to achieve an appropriate distance. If the courtroom does not fulfill the spatial requirements in order to keep the required distance, it will not be possible to enter in it at all
- Using the elevator in a way that only two people can be in it at the same time, and it is recommended that they stand diagonally from each other
- Regular ventilation of the workspace – only applies to the employees
- Only people who work in coffee kitchens are allowed to be in them
- Regular cleaning of building and taking care that there are enough hygiene products – only applies to the employees in the hygiene maintenance department
Entry into the court building will be prohibited to the following persons:
- Persons who don’t wear protective equipment (primarily hygienic masks)
- Persons who don’t want to respect hygienic and safety protection measures
- Persons who don’t respect the safe distance measures (they will first receive a warning)
The presidents of all courts are obliged to, starting from May 8, 2020, point out the Rules of behavior for employees and parties in the courts on the court website, bulletin board and entrance to the court.
Accordingly, we inform our clients and other interested parties that the Law Office Pavleski Law from works at full capacity starting from May 11, 2020, while respecting infection protection measures.
Date: 08.05.2020.
