At the invitation of the Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court of Serbia, Vida Petrovic-Skero, the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Predrag Markovic, attended an event to mark the 160^th anniversary of the institution’s foundation. Mr Markovic addressed a gala conference and reception at Belgrade’s National Theatre, congratulating the Supreme Court on its jubilee and emphasising that society as a whole had to learn from the National Assembly and the Court that everything should be done according to procedure and in public view. He also expressed his hope that ‘the nation will find strength, like the Court and the Assembly are doing, for members of the public to turn out, after several years of discussion, and reach a decision on the new constitution of Serbia’.

Mr Markovic reminded the justices that they take the oath of office before the Chairman of the National Assembly by swearing to do their duty with faith in the Constitution and the law, to the best of their abilities, as well as to serve only truth and justice. ‘I swear by my honour,’ Markovic added, ‘that I will do everything in my power during the final stages of preparation of the new Serbian Constitution to ensure that everybody addresses you as “Your Honour” in the coming years, and also to ensure that you pass judgement in the name of the state and the people, because it is you who must protect the state from villains, but also protect individuals from state-sponsored villainy. This is the only way that we will be able to fulfil the meaning of the four “S’s” on the Serbian coat of arms – solidarity, stability, standards, and self-respect.

Speakers at the gala reception to mark the Serbian Supreme Court’s jubilee included Vida Petrovic-Skero, Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court, and Zoran Stojkovic, Minister of Justice. The Supreme Court of Serbia was established by order of Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, on 21 September 1846. To mark its 160^th anniversary, the Supreme Court organised an exhibition of historic documents and photographs at the National Theatre, and also issued a monograph on its history.