TIRANA, Aug 26 /ATA/ Minister of Justice Toni Gogu emphasized that the measure of judicial reform should extend beyond the number of cases resolved, their duration or the quality of rulings, and must also reflect citizens’ real experience in their first interaction with the system.
In the second editorial of the series ‘Notes on Justice,’ titled ‘Justice Does Not Begin in Court,’ Justice Minister Toni Gogu placed emphasis on access to justice — ranging from information and free legal aid to mediation, digital services and the language used by institutions.
Justice Minister Toni Gogu wrote that the citizen’s experience — from the sidewalk they step on, to the door that opens and the response they receive — should become a performance indicator rather than remain a footnote.
Justice Minister Toni Gogu said citizens do not separate their experience at the service desk from the final court decision. He added that mechanisms such as legal aid, mediation, information services and electronic platforms should be measured not merely as
Justice Minister Toni Gogu said citizens do not separate their experience at the service desk from the final court decision. He added that mechanisms such as legal aid, mediation, information services and electronic platforms should be measured not merely as administrative functions, but as the citizen’s first point of contact with justice.
Gogu also addressed digitalization, saying it only has value when it brings the state closer to the citizen. ‘A platform that requires the patience of a lawyer to use is no longer a service, but a new obstacle with a modern face,’ he noted.
Gogu explained that improving access does not compromise the independence of the courts, while underscoring the responsibility of institutions to make information clear and services reachable.
Justice Minister Toni Gogu concluded that access to justice is the daily test of whether the rule of law is applied or remains only on paper. ‘Not Brussels reports, but the door a person finds open or closed,’ he said.
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