Trials and pronouncements of judgments in criminal cases before the Court of BiH are, as a rule, public. Trials in civil proceedings conducted before the Court of BiH are also, as a rule, public. This means that any adult may attend such procedural proceedings, without the need to prove his/her direct personal interest.

Only exceptionally, for the purpose of protecting the interests specified by law, may the Court issue a decision to exclude the public.

In criminal proceedings, the operative part of a judgment is always read out in open session, even if the public was excluded from the trial. In such a situation, the trial panel will decide whether and to what extent to exclude the public while reading out the reasoning of the judgment.

Administrative proceedings are not public, and may only be attended by persons invited to attend.

The Court has been making significant efforts to provide conditions for as many interested members of the public and the media as possible to be able to follow the Court trials and sessions from which the public has not been excluded. Trial schedules are planned in the manner that those trials that are of hightened public interest take place in larger courtrooms that may accommodate large audiences.

For more information, we recommend that you consult our trial schedule.

Also, we recommend that you read the rules pertaining to visits to the Court (hereinafter).

Courtroom spectator seating capacity:

Courtroom 1:  6 spectators

Courtroom 2:  6 spectators

Courtroom 3:  12 spectators

Courtroom 4:  40 spectators

Courtroom 5:  11 spectators

Courtroom 6:  80 spectators

Courtroom 7:  17 spectators

Courtroom 8:  20 spectators

Courtroom 9:  22 spectators

Seats are allocated according to the priority and first-come-first-served principles. You may stay for as long as you want, but you must enter before the hearing begins or during breaks. It is not allowed to leave the courtroom while a hearing is underway. While in the courtroom, the audience shall behave accordingly (it is not allowed to laugh, talk aloud, consume food/drink or hinder the court’s operations in any other way). During breaks, audience must leave the courtroom.

The Court invites interested groups of citizens, organizations, associations and the media to pay organized visits to the Court. During the visits, organized groups will be able to learn more about the operations of the Court and of individual divisions, while, in accordance with the Court’s capacities and the interest shown, tours of courtrooms, library, witness rooms and other premises of the Court will be organized, as well as attendance at individual hearings.

For more information on group and organized visits to the Court of BiH, please click here.

The Organized Visit to the Court Form may be downloaded here.

Procedure on arrival

It suffices to show up at the entrance to the Court (it is not necessary to fill in a form in advance). However, for group, organized visits, due to limited courtroom seating capacity, it is in your best interest to timely announce your arrival.

Visitors are allowed to enter the Complex through the main gate only, from the Safeta Hadžića Street.

All persons entering the Court building must pass through a security check-point manned by the Judicial Police. There are lockers at the front entrance where you are obligated to put all items that must not be brought inside the Court building. On entering the building, all visitors must surrender their valid identification documents (passport, ID or driver’s license) at the reception desk, while being issued with a visitor pass, which must be displayed in a manner that it is clearly visible throughout the visit to the Complex.

House rules

1. Visitors shall abide by relevant rules of behavior. Any visitor who fails to abide by the house rules or fails to conduct him/herself in an appropriate manner may be removed from the Court’s premises immediately, after which he may be banned from visiting the Court.

2. Visitors shall not make noise, clamor or curse, or act in any other manner that might disturb court hearings, other visitors or other activities of the Court. Use of degrading or inappropriate language or unbecoming behavior is not allowed.

3. Visitors are expected to enter the Court wearing appropriate attire. Clothes that are considered provocative, or displaying potentially disturbing, offensive symbols or images, are not allowed. Visitors at the Complex are not allowed to don miniskirts, shorts, summer shirts with thin shoulder straps, open footwear and other clothing items that are not appropriate for the working environment in judicial institutions.

4. It is strictly prohibited to bring into the Court of BiH building any firearms or cold weapons, ammunition, explosive and inflammable substances, radio and TV sets, mobile phones, radio communication stations, laptops, personal digital organizers, photo cameras and any other equipment for processing audio and video recordings or information or for their recording and broadcasting.

5. Audio recording, video recording or photographing at the Court building is strictly prohibited. Security staff are authorized to seize and/or erase the recordings that have not been approved.

6. Bringing alcoholic drinks, narcotic substances and strong-smelling food onto the Court premises is strictly forbidden.

Also strictly forbidden is food and drink consumption, reading newspapers, books or magazines in courtroom spectator areas.

Strictly forbidden is smoking inside the judicial institutions building, save in the especially designated and marked rooms.

7. Visitors are not allowed to leave their luggage or personal items unattended at any time. There are lockers for that purpose. Persons who wish to enter the Court building with too much luggage or with unusual luggage may be denied entrance. The Court is not responsible for any loss, damage or theft of personal items owned by visitors on the Court premises.

8. The section of the Court building in which offices of judges and judicial staff not working with citizens are located is closed for the public. Visitors are prohibited from entering the closed section of the Court.

9. Security staff may request Court building evacuation at any time. Please follow their instructions closely.