At the Council meeting, the participants were welcomed by the Chairman of the Georgian Bar Association, Irakli Kandashvili, the Chairwoman of the Supreme Court, Nino Kadagidze, and the Prosecutor General, Giorgi Gvarakidze.

During the meeting, lawyers, prosecutors, and judges discussed issues related to remote court hearings and procedural motions submitted to the court. Topics included the electronic submission of attachments, the constitutional aspects of a defendant’s right to physical attendance, confidential lawyer-client communication during remote hearings, the evidentiary value of hearing recordings and access to them, among others.

As part of the meeting, participants developed recommendations and outlined future plans.

“The Justice Coordination Council (Bench-Bar) serves as an important platform for professional dialogue and cooperation among lawyers, judges, and prosecutors. The effective functioning and development of the justice system are impossible without continuous, constructive, and mutually respectful communication among the legal professions. This format provides us with an opportunity to jointly identify existing challenges within the system, develop practical solutions, and contribute to the establishment of a more effective, high-quality, and fair justice system in the country,” stated Irakli Kandashvili.

The Justice Coordination Council (Bench-Bar) was established in 2020 at the initiative of the Georgian Bar Association, in cooperation with the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia. Its purpose is to promote the strengthening of the legal profession, foster mutual respect among legal professionals, and encourage the development of healthy collegial relations and shared ethical principles in Georgia.