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Sigita Jokimaitė, President of the Lithuanian Judges’ Association (LRTA) and Judge of the Supreme Court of Lithuania, and Marius Bartninkas, a member of the LRTA and President of the Kaunas Regional Court, participated in the 68th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Judges (IAJ), held in Lisbon, Portugal. The event brought together representatives of judges’ associations from around the world to discuss common challenges to judicial independence and the importance of international cooperation in defending the principles of the rule of law.

Considerable attention during the meeting was devoted to safeguarding the independence of courts and judges, increasing pressure on judges, intimidation, risks of political interference and attempts to undermine public confidence in the judiciary. Experiences shared by participants from different countries demonstrated that, despite differences in legal systems and national circumstances, judges in various parts of the world face similar challenges. Ensuring judicial independence therefore remains one of the key issues in safeguarding the rule of law and democracy.

“Judicial independence is not merely a concern for an individual state or its judicial community – it is a cornerstone of every democratic society. When judges face pressure or attempts to influence their decisions, it is particularly important that they are not left to face these challenges alone. International cooperation among judges’ associations enables us to share experience, support one another and consistently defend the principles on which justice is founded,” said Sigita Jokimaitė, President of the LRTA.

At the international conference entitled “The Role of Judges’ Associations”, held on 18 October, the main focus was on the responsibility of judges’ associations to safeguard judicial independence and strengthen the rule of law. The conference emphasised that judges’ associations are an important component of an independent justice system: they not only represent the professional interests of judges, but also contribute to judges’ security, the protection of human rights and the promotion of democratic principles.

In her address, Professor Margaret Satterthwaite, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, emphasised that judicial independence is a cornerstone of democracy. When a judge fears dismissal, persecution or political pressure, not only the right to a fair trial but also the effective protection of human rights is at risk. Conference participants also stressed that the rule of law is not a value that can be taken for granted – it must be continuously nurtured and defended. Solidarity and cooperation among judges’ associations are therefore particularly important whenever judicial independence is threatened.

One of the most significant moments of the meeting was the presentation of the International Association of Judges’ Judicial Independence Award to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The award was accepted on behalf of the Court by ECtHR Judge Ana Maria Guerra Martins. This recognition highlighted the European Court of Human Rights’ role in defending the principles of the rule of law, human rights and judicial independence.

In a video address to the participants, ECtHR President Mattias Guyomar emphasised that, for more than seven decades, the Court has been defending the rule of law and judicial independence. He noted that supporting judges who face attacks and various forms of pressure is particularly important today. The award presented by the International Association of Judges recognised the Court’s role and served as a reminder of the importance of independent justice to democratic society.

Founded in 1953, the International Association of Judges brings together national judges’ associations from around the world. Its primary objective is to safeguard the independence of courts and judges. The LRTA became a member of this international organisation in 1997. Participation in the IAJ’s activities enables the Lithuanian judicial community to exchange experience with colleagues from other countries and contribute to international efforts to defend judicial independence and the principles of the rule of law.

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