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Mongolia

Training Judges, Providing Computers Improves Confidence in Judiciary

A citizen in Gobi Altai region getting information from the public access terminal installed at the local court through a USAID project.

ARVAYHEER, Mongolia - On a cold Wednesday morning in early May, the local courtrooms, typically bustling with activity, are quiet. Court is out of session: the 16 local judges are learning how to write court decisions in a clear, concise manner.

"This helps improve our relationship with the citizens," says Chief Judge Baasanjav. "Our objective is to make the court more transparent and open to the public."

Improving Mongolians' relationship with their judicial system is one aspect of USAID's Judicial Reform Project (JRP), which began in 2001, a year after Mongolia revamped its judiciary. JRP stepped in to train all of the country's judges in the new criminal and civil codes. All 61 Mongolian courts were automated.

JRP now works with the agency that overseas the legal profession to develop new courses that deal with subjects such as ethics and domestic violence. It is also working on administering Mongolia's recently-introduced qualification exam for legal professionals.

Changes in the judiciary are keenly felt, Baasanjav says.

"Before JRP, our court had two computers, which were mainly used as typewriters. But we now have 43 computers and 17 printers and copiers - all of our judges and staff are using computers," he says.

Judges now routinely produce decisions within the legal 60-day period, a process that could drag on endlessly, he adds.

Confidence in the local courts increased from 41 to 50 percent in urban areas and from 46 to 60 percent in rural areas, between 2001 and 2005, according to a survey by the National Center for State Courts, which manages JRP.

The project has been educating Mongolians about their courts. The Uvurhangai province court, for instance, has citizens rights posted at the entrance, next to a hearing schedule and a stack of case decisions of interest to the media.

A public access terminal was opened so people could look up hearing dates or case decisions. An administrative staffer is available to show how to get a lawyer or file a complaint. This employee also tracks the number of cases per judge, and how quickly they are solved, which helps improve case flow management.

JRP has also created a TV series, "Legal Hour," which educates the public on its rights. The project has also trained journalists to report on legal issues.

Work is now focusing on prosecutors, who will have their offices equipped with computers this fall. Software that is compatible between the courts and the prosecutors is being developed; similar software will be provided to the police later on.

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