What makes a judge a master of judgment? What is the role of justice in society? In addition to practical and administrative issues, such topics requiring deeper thinking have been discussed in the course of the training organized at the Hungarian Academy of Justice for civil judges appointed for a limited period of time. Thirty judges and fifteen assistant judges are taking part in the first training for the new generation target group between 4-8 February. 

“The work of a judge cannot be overestimated” – said dr. András Osztovits in his opening speech. The Director of the Hungarian Academy of Justice pointed out that the seemingly insignificant details of a court hearing could become more  significant than expected. For example, it is quite important how the judge presides over the hearing, and furthermore what the judge wears under the robe. The parties may come to a decisive conclusion concerning their future lives from these details. That is why in the Anglo-Saxon world, the course of hearings is strictly regulated. It is no coincidence that the judge is the last to enter the courtroom, since it is easier to keep up respect than to recover it, so it is not worth starting with a step backwards. What makes a good judge is not only the ability to learn the law, since knowing the law is no more than a necessary prerequisite for such a career.

It is also necessary to develop so-called soft skills that are not taught at law schools. This is why the new generation trainings focus on developing these skills. The concept of service courts has become more popular, therefore the judge's problem solving attitude is more and more appreciated, leading the parties to an amicable settlement. In the majority of court cases, a moment that offers the possibility of a turn can be detected: the turn that may lead to a settlement between the parties. However, to be able to grasp this moment, the judge must sharpen many of his skills.  
 In the rest of the week, prerequisites for an efficient procedure, finding the balance between family and work, the challenges of electronic communication, useful tips on how to cope with the media, and court mediation will also be discussed.   
Trainers of small group sessions are all experienced judges, who were trained specifically for this purpose in order to be able to guide the new generation.