The UNSA Faculty of Law Team Won the First Place at the

Fourth National Competition in a Criminal Law Mock Trial

The Fourth National Competition in a Criminal Law Mock Trial was held under the auspices of the US Embassy at the Jahorina Termag Hotel from 4 to 7 November 2015. Law teams from the BH state universities Faculties of Law participated in the competition.

The following fulltime undergraduate studies students enrolled in the fourth year represented the UNSA Faculty of Law: Ahmetagic Faruk, Fuad Avdagic, Aida Hamur, Tahir Herenda, Harun Iseric, Nasir Muftic and Nihad Odobasic. The coach was M. Sci. Nedzad Smailagic, a PhD studies student, while the entire process managed by Prof. Dr. Hajrija Sijercic-Colic.

At the mock trial were simulated proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights on the basis of fictitious cases against Bosnia and Herzegovina in relation to allegations of violations of the right to a fair trial (Art. 6) and the right to respect for private and family life (Art. 8), the European Convention on Human Rights.

The competition judges praised the UNSA Faculty of Law students in terms of their knowledge of the European Convention on Human Rights, domestic criminal substantive and procedural law, the European Court of Human Rights and the Court, and exceptional rhetorical skills. In this sense, students Nihad Odobasic and Tahir Herenda were specially commended.

Students pointed out that mock trial competition is the opportunity to further familiarize future lawyers with the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, the practice of the Strasbourg Court, and the degree of compliance of the domestic criminal procedure law with convention standards. Students also had an opportunity to develop their rhetoric skills, meet colleagues from other public law faculties in the country and to exchange experience.