OPENNESS AND RECEPTIVENESS RESPECTFUL TREATMENT CREDIBILITY ACCOUNTABILITY
THE COURTS OF DENMARK FOR LAW AND JUSTICE
THE COURTS ROLE AND DUTY The courts protect our democracy, society ruled by law and the legal rights of individuals. The courts duties are defined in the constitution and other legislation. The courts impose sentences and settle disputes between individuals, companies and public authorities. The courts decide issues on the legality of the actions of public authorities and ensure that legislation is in accordance with the constitution and with Denmark s international obligations. The courts also decide enforcement proceedings, probate matters and land registration. In the words of the constitution: The courts have the judicial power. The courts must ensure equality before the law and protect the individual against abuses of power. According to the constitution, judges are therefore independent they must decide cases only according to the law and be impartial. They must not be guided by political or other extraneous interests.
Vision The courts work in a contemporary and professional manner for law and justice by making the right decisions at the right time decisions that are well-founded and easy to understand. In this way we earn the public s trust and respect. VALUES The courts are built upon strong values that we do our best to live up to every day and in all contexts, both externally and internally. THE COURTS HAVE THE JUDICIAL POWER
ACCOUNTABILITY The courts must make correct, justified and clear decisions in a timely manner. We must therefore have the necessary professional skills and people skills to perform our duties with the highest quality and efficiency possible. Everyone at the courts have a shared responsibility for both the individual court s outcome and for the courts in general. Therefore, we share knowledge and we develop and encourage the use of best practices. RESPECTFUL TREATMENT We treat everybody properly and with respect. We demonstrate an understanding of the individual s situation and background, and we respect diversity. We express ourselves in a clear and comprehensible manner, both verbally and in writing. CREDIBILITY In the courts, we work according to the law, and we are trustworthy. We are not influenced by extraneous considerations. We are impartial and neutral, and we are aware that we must appear as such at any given time. OPENNESS AND RECEPTIVENESS The courts must be open and accessible to all. We cooperate with each other and our service users in respect of the framework that applies to the courts. We work for the courts to develop in a contemporary way as an organisation and as a workplace.
OBJECTIVES AND FOCUS AREAS FOR THE COURTS OF DENMARK 2013-2018 The Courts of Denmark have a number of objectives and focus areas for 2013-2018. There are four main objectives for the period and a number of focus areas that are important in order to achieve these objectives. Digitization at the courts plays a significant role for all objectives and focus areas. THE FOUR MAIN OBJECTIVES ARE: Short case processing times More consistency in the performance of duties Contemporary communication Continue to be an attractive workplace.
1. SHORT CASE PROCESSING TIMES The courts case processing times are of great importance. Every day the courts make decisions or take actions that affect the individual citizen or company. Case processing times must therefore be short and uniform across the country so that people with similar cases will have their cases processed within the same time frame no matter where the case is handled. increasing flexibility and mobility in the court system streamlining the administration of justice optimizing the administrative procedures in collaboration with service users. It is our ambition to reduce case processing times and achieve consistent processing times in similar cases. We will therefore focus on the possibilities of:
2. MORE CONSISTENCY WHEN CARRYING OUT DUTIES In many areas, it is important for service users that the courts case processing and administrative procedures become more uniform. It is therefore our ambition that the courts are to implement a number of projects in order to create more consistency in carrying out their duties. We will therefore focus on: outlining the courts diversity in a number of selected areas developing common standards and practices in areas where it is important for service users establishing a good framework for knowledge sharing. OBJECTIVES AND FOCUS AREAS
3. CONTEMPORARY COMMUNICATION It is an essential prerequisite to maintain confidence in the courts that the citizens know and understand the courts decisions and function in society. Communication must be clear and contemporary, both in and outside the courtroom. It is our ambition to raise public awareness about the courts in general and case law, both through the means of better communication and by modernizing the language used in court. We will therefore focus on: raising public awareness of the courts role and duties explaining court decisions ensuring timely and understandable letters and decisions. OBJECTIVES AND FOCUS AREAS
4. CONTINUE TO BE AN ATTRACTIVE WORKPLACE It is an essential prerequisite for achieving the overall objectives that everyone at the Courts of Denmark is suitably qualified and competent. The courts should be an attractive workplace that can attract and retain highly qualified employees. We therefore need to publicize that the courts are a workplace with strong values, big professional challenges for the individual employee, and offer exciting and socially relevant duties. We also need to voice and work to expand the great opportunities for further training and skills development for all employees. It is our ambition that the courts must be one of the most attractive public workplaces by 2018. We will therefore focus on: ensuring and attracting qualified applicants for all positions ensuring and attracting skilled and competent managers working for the positive development of each employee as well as improving his or her ability to handle challenges and responsibilities increasing employee satisfaction publicizing awareness of the courts as a workplace.