European Commission of the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ)
Extract from the 2011 activity programme adopted at the 16th plenary meeting
(Appendix II (CEPEJ(2010)9)
Terms of reference of the Steering group of the
SATURN Centre for judicial time management
renewed by the CEPEJ at its 16th plenary meeting
1. Tasks
The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice acts as a Centre for judicial time management (SATURN1 Centre) aimed at collecting specific information necessary for achieving a sufficiently detailed knowledge of judicial timeframes in the member states enabling them to implement policies aiming to prevent violations of the right to fair trial within a reasonable time protected by Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Centre shall in particular:
a. as a European Observatory of judicial timeframes, analyse the quantitative and qualitative situation regarding time management in European courts (case-flow management, timeframes per types of cases, waiting times within proceedings, etc.);
b. provide member states with tools for knowledge and analysis of case-flows, backlogs and timeframes of judicial proceedings;
c. promote and assess the implementation in the member states and ensure the updating of the SATURN Guidelines for judicial time management and other relevant CEPEJ's tools.
The Centre is managed through a Steering group, established in accordance with article 7.2.b of Appendix 1 to Resolution Res(2002)12, under the authority of the CEPEJ.
In order to fulfil its tasks, the Steering group shall in particular:
· collect, process, assess and analyse the relevant quantitative and qualitative information on time management in courts, including the information available within the framework of the CEPEJ's process for evaluating judicial systems as well as the information available at the European Court of Human Rights;
· define and improve measuring systems and common indicators on judicial timeframes in all member states and develop appropriate modalities and tools for collecting information through statistical analysis;
· rely on appropriate networks allowing to integrate of the works and considerations of the judicial community, in particular on the network of pilot courts within the member states, to exploit innovative projects aimed at reducing and adjusting the timeframes operated by courts in member states;
· organise and implement a court coaching programme (on a volunteer basis) for the effective use of the CEPEJ's tools and guidelines, on the basis of an implementation protocol to be finalised by the Group.
2. Composition
The Steering group shall be composed of 6 members of the CEPEJ or experts, proposed by member states and appointed by the CEPEJ Bureau, with an in-depth knowledge in the field of judicial timeframes. Their travel and subsistence expenses will be borne by the budget of the Council of Europe. Other experts appointed by the member states might participate in its work, at their own expenses.
The relevant Council of Europe and European Union bodies may be represented to the Steering group without the right to vote or defrayal expenses.
The non-governmental organisations granted with the observer status to the CEPEJ may be invited by the Bureau to participate in the work of the Steering group, on a case-by-case basis, if the Bureau considers their attendance relevant for the quality of the work.
3. Working structures and methods
The Centre will hold 2 meetings in 2011 (subject to budgetary availability).
In carrying out its terms of reference, the Steering group shall cooperate with the CEPEJ Network of Pilot courts. It will also coordinate its work with other relevant CEPEJ's working groups (namely the CEPEJ-GT-EVAL)
It may also seek the advice of external experts and have recourse to studies by consultants.
4. Duration
These terms of reference expire on 31 December 2011.