Duration: August 2006 - December 2008

Partners: American Bar Association/Central European
               and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA/CEELI)

Geographic Focus: National

Description:
This project funds the compilation and the publication of the Judicial Reform Index (JRI).  JRI is an innovative tool developed by CEELI to assess judicial reform and judicial independence in emerging democracies and transitioning states. It offers international organizations, development agencies, technical legal assistance providers, and local reformers a reliable means to target judicial reform programs and monitor progress towards establishing more accountable, effective and independent judiciaries. ABA/CEELI first implemented the Judicial Reform Index (JRI) in Albania in 2001 and again in 2004. This project will allow for the publication of the third and fourth JRI to measure progress of the Albanian judiciary over the years.

The JRI evaluates judicial reform and judicial independence through a prism of 30 indicators which measure the quality, education and diversity of judges; judicial powers; financial resources; structural safeguards; transparency; and judicial efficiency. USAID expects that the JRI reports will feed into a constructive judicial reform debate.

The JRIs are available online at http://www.abaceeli.org/jri