A two-day seminar on the reasoning and drafting of civil judgments was held on 1–2 October 2026 in Sarajevo, bringing together 37 judges and legal advisers from first- and second-instance courts.

A well-reasoned judgment is more than a formal requirement. It allows people involved in court proceedings to understand why a court reached a particular decision, how the relevant facts and law were assessed, and why their arguments were accepted or rejected. Clear and consistent reasoning also strengthens trust in the justice system and contributes to more predictable judicial practice.

The seminar focused on the practical aspects of preparing clear, structured and adequately reasoned civil judgments. Participants examined national standards and relevant case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with particular attention to the requirement that courts address the essential arguments raised by the parties. Through practical examples and discussion of common shortcomings, participants also explored how the reasoning of judgments can be made clearer, more coherent and better supported by the facts and applicable law.

The activity contributes to the project’s objective of strengthening the quality and consistency of judicial decision-making in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By working directly with judges on practical challenges in judicial reasoning, the seminar supported the development of approaches that can lead to clearer, more consistent and better-reasoned civil judgments, ultimately making court decisions easier for citizens to understand and strengthening the effective application of human rights standards in domestic proceedings.

The training was held as part of the Council of Europe project “Support to a coherent national implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights and facilitating execution of ECtHR judgments in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Phase II”, which is funded through the Action plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2026-2029.