The history of justice is not written only by the laws that are passed.

2026-03-16 16:11:00, Opinione Erjon Bani

It is often said that the strength of the courts lies not only in the authority of the law, but in the integrity, independence and responsibility of those who apply it. For this reason, the quality of tomorrow's justice depends directly on the quality of the training of magistrates today.

In this sense, the role of the School of Magistrates is crucial, as it is not just an academic institution, but the foundation on which the professionalism, integrity and responsibility of the generation of judges who will shoulder the responsibility of justice in the years to come is built. Therefore, it is the guarantee that tomorrow's justice will be more professional, more independent and more reliable.

I have decided to run for the Board of Directors of the School of Magistrates because I believe that institutions are not improved only by criticism of them, but by a concrete commitment to improving them. As Theodore Roosevelt said: “It is far better to dare to do great things than to stand by and criticize those who do them.”

During my career, I have had the opportunity to get to know the School of Magistrates closely: as a Presiding Magistrate, as a lecturer and trainer of magistrates, as a former member of its Board elected by the Assembly of Magistrates, as a former head of the National Association of Judges, and today as head of the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime. This experience has convinced me that strengthening the School of Magistrates is one of the main keys to strengthening the entire justice system. This is because this institution does not only teach law. It teaches how to exercise the power of justice with prudence, integrity and responsibility. If you entrust me with this responsibility, my focus will be on several main directions.

First, improving selection and assessment mechanisms in initial training.

The process of selecting magistrates must ensure that the justice system attracts the best candidates, not only from an academic point of view, but also from an ethical and professional point of view. This is because tomorrow's justice system will be as strong as the magistrates who enter the system today. It is therefore essential that those who will apply the law are professionals with integrity and high moral responsibility.

For this reason, it is necessary to: strengthen the mechanisms for assessing analytical skills and legal reasoning, increase the transparency and objectivity of the selection process, and include more practical elements in the assessment.

Secondly, increasing the quality of teaching.

The Magistrates' School should develop teaching methods that more closely link theory with practice. The Magistrates' School should not be just a place where legal norms are taught. It should be a place where legal reasoning, decision analysis and decision-making responsibility are taught.
This means: greater use of practical case studies, court simulations and decision analysis, closer cooperation with courts and prosecutors' offices.

This is because international models show us a simple truth: a magistrate is not formed only in law books, but in professional dialogue, in critical analysis of practice, and in facing the real challenges of justice.

Third, strengthening the analytical and legal reasoning skills of magistrates.

International standards of judicial training emphasize that an effective judiciary does not rely solely on knowledge of legal norms, but on the ability of magistrates to think analytically, to weigh alternatives and to justify their decisions in a transparent and auditable manner. For this reason, the systematic development of these skills in initial and continuing training is essential for strengthening the professionalism, independence and integrity of magistrates.

Fourth, building a professional culture based on integrity and responsibility .
Public trust in justice is not built only by court decisions.
It is built by the integrity of those who make those decisions. The Magistrates' School should be the place where not only legal knowledge is formed, but also the professional ethics of the magistrate. Therefore, it is essential that a strong emphasis be placed in the training process on: professional ethics, institutional responsibility, as well as the culture of service to justice and society.

Fifth, selecting the best teachers and experts

The quality of a law school directly depends on the quality of its faculty. For this reason, there is a need for: greater involvement of highly qualified judges and prosecutors, the use of international experts in specific fields, professionals who bring real experience from practice, and periodic evaluation of the quality of teaching.

Sixth, continuous updating of training topics

Training programs should reflect the latest developments in: national and international jurisprudence, technology and digital evidence, organized crime and corruption, and human rights standards. Because justice is a constantly evolving system, and the training of magistrates must keep pace.

Seventh, increased attention should be paid to training modules related to the well-being of judges.

The well-being of judges is not a matter of personal comfort. It is a matter of the quality of justice. An overworked, professionally isolated or constantly exposed to various pressures is not simply a professional in difficulty. He is an institution placed in a difficult situation. Because every judicial decision requires mental calm, concentration and professional integrity. Justice requires a clear mind. Justice requires balance. Justice requires judges who are able to listen, reflect and decide with prudence. Therefore, in many European countries an important truth has been understood: the well-being of judges is a necessary element of the independence of the judiciary.

For these reasons, it is necessary to develop Training Programs for the Well-being of Judges, which aim to help judges:
1) Manage professional stress;
2) Maintain a balance between professional and personal life;
3) Cope with public and media pressure;
4) Maintain integrity and clarity in decision-making;
5) Manage conflicts in the courtroom;
Finally, strengthen transparency and meritocracy in the decision-making of the Governing Council, as well as the most efficient use of the resources of the School of Magistrates.

We are a relatively small community, but with a very great responsibility towards justice and towards society. For this reason, our electoral processes should not divide us into camps, but unite us around the values ??we share: independence, integrity and professional responsibility.

As Abraham Lincoln said: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
Even our professional community is stronger when it is united in respect for each other and for the institutions we represent.

Voting day should not be a day of tension. It should be a moment of institutional maturity and professional dignity, where each of us freely expresses our will and where this will is respected without question.

Because, ultimately, as one of the most famous American judges, Benjamin Cardozo, put it: "Justice is not built only by the decisions we make, but by the way we exercise our responsibility to each other and to institutions."

Ultimately, regardless of the opinions or choices that each of us may have, we remain part of the same mission. We are part of the same professional community. And above all, we bear the same responsibility to protect citizens' trust in justice.

The history of justice is not written only by the laws that are passed. It is written by the character of the people who implement them. It is written by the courage to take responsibility. And above all, it is written by the ability to stand united in defense of the values ??we represent. Because justice is more than a profession. It is a responsibility to society. And this responsibility requires integrity, prudence, and unity from us.

*Excerpt from the speech given by the President of the Special Court, Erjon Bani