Judges and Attorneys in interaction: similarities and differences of Latvian and American justice systems
Date of the Conference
June 8-9, 2006
Organizers
The Supreme Court of Latvia and the American Board of Trial Advocates
Participants
15 high-level US judges and advocates
Chairs of Latvian district (city) and regional courts, judges of the Constitutional Court, senators and judges of the Supreme Court
Advocates of Latvia's leading law firms, senior advocates from districts of Latvia, individual practicing advocates
Judge of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities Ingrīda Labucka
- Participiants list second day
- Participiants list first discussion
- Participiants list second discussion
- Participiants list third discussion
Programme
The Professional activity and the relations between judges and advocates in Latvia not only once have aroused contemplation and even passions. To find a solution how to better professional ethics, behaviour and cooperation of the judicial officials and to find new ways how to strengthen the disciplinary accountability of judges and advocates, the Supreme Court and the American Board of Trial Advocates were organizing conference “Judges and attorneys in interaction: the commonalities and the differences in Latvia and American legal systems” on the 8th and 9th of June. We were also discussing judgments – not understandable for the society, and things we should do to better the prestige of judiciary.
On the second Conference day there was a possibility to observe a trial, which was chaired by Wendel Mortimer, Judge from USA and Gunārs Aigars, Chairman of the Civil Cases Chamber. It was a great possibility to acquaint with the American judicial principles and the performance of sworn jury.
Materials
Professional Ethics, Behaviour and Liability of Judges and Advocates" Andris Guļāns, Chief Justice
Latvian and American advocates and judges – the beginning of discussion, Press realese
Michael Callahan - attorney from USA and John Phelps – President of ABOTA getting acquainted with the case materials