Judicial Development Project for Bulgaria (JDPB)
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Under the USAID-funded Judicial Development Project for Bulgaria (JDPB), EWMI assisted in the development of an independent judiciary that supports democratic processes and market reforms in Bulgaria. Within its overall objective, the JDPB had three key components: legislative reform, judicial training and court administration reform. In the area of legislative reform, EWMI was instrumental in the drafting of a National Judicial Reform Strategy and Action Plan that was adopted by the Government of Bulgaria and endorsed by the European Union. In the area of judicial training, EWMI worked to create a premier training institute for judges and court officials, whereby competent and professionally trained judicial and staff trainers deliver quality instruction using well-organized and relevant materials. These efforts culminated in the establishment of the National Institute of Justice, a full-fledged, government supported training institution, that provides introductory training to all newly appointed judges and prosecutors, as well as, continuing education programs for sitting judges and prosecutors. In the area of court administration reform, EWMI helped improve the administrative cohesiveness of Bulgaria’s courts and developed an effective national court administration mechanism through the provision of extensive technical assistance to the Supreme Judicial Council.