Ranko Debevec Quits Judiciary Amid Disciplinary Proceedings

Ranko Debevec resigned as President and Judge of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This occurred just before he was officially served with a decision to remove him from office.

The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (VSTV) of BiH had previously ruled to dismiss Debevec. A disciplinary commission found he intentionally failed to follow rules for automatic case assignment in 16 cases over nearly two years. This violated his duties and undermined public trust. Debevec appealed, but a second-instance commission upheld his dismissal. He then resigned from all judicial functions before the formal notification.

Judge Minka Kreho is currently acting president of the BiH Court. She began this role in December 2023 after Debevec's suspension. Debevec was arrested in late 2023 alongside Osman Mehmedagić, former director of the BiH Intelligence-Security Agency. They face charges including abuse of office and illegal wiretapping. Their trial started in April before the Supreme Court of the Federation of BiH.

Judge biographies and photos recently returned to the BiH Court website. These were removed in March 2025 following threats from Milorad Dodik, who called on Serbs to exit BiH institutions. The Prosecutor's Office of BiH website still lacks prosecutor details.