On October 1, 2025, an exceptional conference entitled “The power of statement of facts: from origins to artificial intelligence” was held in Belgrade, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, organized by the National Chamber of Judicial Officers of Serbia under ist president Bojan Kostic, with the support of the International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ). This event brought together many professionals from several countries around a central theme: the role of the statement of facts in judicial evidence and its adaptation to contemporary technological challenges.
In Serbia, judicial officers do not yet have the competence to draw up statement of facts. However, this development is one of the main aspirations of the National Chamber, which is actively working to ensure that this mission is integrated into the remit of Serbian judicial officers. The aim is to strengthen the role of these professionals in the collection and security of evidence, drawing inspiration from the best practices observed in other European countries. The statement of facts is indeed an essential tool to guarantee transparency, prevent disputes and strengthen confidence in the justice system.
Throughout the day, the participants were able to attend a series of high-level interventions retracing the evolution of the statement of facts by judicial officer, from its origins to its future perspectives. Françoise Andrieux, Honorary President of the UIHJ, opened the proceedings by recalling the historical evolution of the statement of facts and the place it occupies today in the systems of evidence. Lionel Decotte, Commissioner of Justice in France, then presented several practical cases illustrating the challenges faced by judicial officers and the solutions provided in the field.
The President of the UIHJ, Marc Schmitz, captivated the audience with a presentation dedicated to the use of the drone in the context of statement of facts, demonstrating how this innovative technology can contribute to strengthening the accuracy and reliability of the reports, while respecting the legal requirements. The intervention of Sébastien Trapon, Commissioner of Justice in France, then recalled the probative value of the statement of facts and its conditions of validity, while Robert Cicuto, treasurer of the UEHJ, invited reflection on the prospects offered by artificial intelligence in the production of evidence.
The final round table, bringing together all the speakers and moderated by Jos Uitdehaag, First Vice-President of the UIHJ, gave rise to a rich exchange on the future of the statement of facts by judicial officer, its challenges and its limits, in a context where technological advances are disrupting judicial practices.
On the sidelines of the event, Marc Schmitz, President of the UIHJ, met His Excellency Nenad Vujic, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Serbia. The discussions focused not only on the advantages of the statement of facts by judicial officers to strengthen the efficiency and transparency of justice, but also on the challenges that digitalization and artificial intelligence pose to the profession. This meeting confirmed the shared desire to pursue a constructive dialogue with a view to adapting judicial systems to the realities of the modern world, while preserving the human dimension at the heart of justice.
