PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED
The Criminal Defense Department (CDD) represents an organizational unit of the Sector for Criminal Assistance and Education in Criminal Matters before the Court of BiH at the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a unique institution in the field of international criminal law whose role is to ensure the highest standards of defense in war crimes trials before the judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are located at the Ministry of Justice of BiH (Criminal Defense Department), Dubrovačka 6/5, 71 000 Sarajevo.
The Criminal Defense Department (CDD) provides legal and administrative support to lawyers before the Court of BiH, as well as specialized training programs for lawyers and other individuals involved in court proceedings. The CDD also undertakes other activities within the legal community to ensure the dissemination of information on the prosecution of war crimes committed in the region, as well as providing support to the legal profession.
LEGAL SUPPORT
The Criminal Defense Department (CDD) primarily provides expert legal advice to lawyers defending war crimes cases. Depending on available capacities, the CDD also offers support in cases of organized crime, economic crime, and corruption.
Legal support in war crimes cases is grouped into four geographic regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina for practical reasons. The CDD’s expert advisors possess specialized knowledge of legal and factual issues that arise in each of these regions and are equipped to provide immediate legal advice in the fields of international criminal law, international human rights law, and criminal procedure.
Among other things, the CDD’s support is realized through their presence and legal assistance to defense attorneys during hearings before the Court of BiH.
CDD OFFICE
The Criminal Defense Department (CDD) employs a team of 8 lawyers, including the Head of the Department and 5 expert advisors. They are supported by a legal administrative assistant and a special projects assistant.
Thanks to the hospitality of the Court of BiH, the CDD also utilizes office spaces located in the building complex of the judicial institutions of BiH.
Lawyers who are not from Sarajevo can use the workspace and equipment located in the CDD office. Every lawyer can visit the office to utilize the library and electronic search resources.
The Criminal Defense Department (CDD) also manages the application process through which lawyers are placed on the list of attorneys authorized to act before the Court of BiH.
The Criminal Defense Department (CDD) organizes specialized training programs designed to ensure that lawyers are qualified to be placed on the list, fulfill their obligation of continuous professional development, and provide specialized training in other areas of law and court procedure.