From shaping the future of judicial education to standing as a strong advocate for judicial independence, Justice Joymalya Bagchi’s impact has been profound. Now, as he takes his place on the bench of the Supreme Court of India, his leadership and commitment to the rule of law will resonate at the highest level.
Justice Bagchi’s legal journey began in 1991, primarily practicing in the Calcutta High Court, where he gained recognition as an advocate in criminal and constitutional law. Appointed as a judge of the Calcutta High Court on June 27, 2011, Justice Bagchi later served at the Andhra Pradesh High Court before returning to Calcutta in November 2021. His judicial career has been defined by a steadfast belief in the rule of law and constitutional supremacy—principles he has championed not only in his rulings but also in his contributions to judicial education.
Justice Bagchi has been an integral part of CEELI’s long-standing judicial education exchange in India, co-organized with the U.S. Federal Judicial Center (FJC) and the National Judicial Academy of India. Launched in 2017, this initiative began as a judicial exchange between Indian and U.S. judges and has since evolved into a transformative program aimed at strengthening judicial education across India. Over the past eight years, CEELI and the FJC have successfully trained 57 judge-trainers, who have in turn facilitated workshops for over 700 judges throughout the country.
As one of these judges, Justice Bagchi has played an important role in fostering judicial integrity and education. Just last June, he was a featured speaker at CEELI’s annual Rule of Law Symposium, where he shared his insights on the responsibilities and challenges faced by judges in safeguarding judicial independence. He expressed optimism about the future of judicial integrity in India, attributing it to the dedication of individuals leading the effort.
“Judges and lawyers are the brand ambassadors of a judiciary,” Justice Bagchi remarked during his speech. “If judges can, by their own deeds and with courage, infuse a sense of traditional independence and constitutional supremacy, the judiciary [will be] preserved.”
Justice Bagchi has also played a crucial role in expanding CEELI’s judicial education initiatives beyond India. In 2023, he participated in the South Asia Judicial Education Summit: Preparing Judges to Adjudicate Terrorism Cases, co-organized by CEELI, the FJC, and the Bolch Institute at the National Judicial Academy of India in Bhopal. This event marked the first time that judges and judicial training institute leaders from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives convened with U.S. judges and other international experts to discuss the importance of transnational cooperation in adjudicating terrorism cases. Building on this foundation, CEELI formally extended its judicial exchange program to Sri Lanka and the Maldives in 2024, with Justice Bagchi serving as a leading expert in the initiative.
In addition to his role as a speaker and trainer, Justice Bagchi has contributed to the development of critical judicial resources. He is the co-author of a benchbook on counterterrorism adjudication for Indian judges, created as part of a CEELI-FJC project. As the first resource of its kind in India, the benchbook provides practical guidance on handling complex terrorism cases while upholding due process and the rule of law.
Justice Bagchi is not the only Supreme Court Justice with close ties to CEELI’s judicial exchange program. Two other recently elevated justices—Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah—were also participants in the CEELI program. Justice Amanullah was elevated to the Supreme Court during one of our training sessions in February 2023, while Justice Singh, who participated in CEELI’s first training program in India and later presented on innovative judicial education in a CEELI and FJC led panel at the 2022 International Organization for Judicial Training (IOJT) Conference, was elevated to the Indian Supreme Court in July 2024.
Justice Bagchi’s continued rise is a reflection of his dedication to judicial excellence. We are proud to have had the opportunity to work with him and look forward to seeing his continued impact on India’s judiciary. Looking ahead, Justice Bagchi is also in line to become the Chief Justice of India in 2031, a role that will further underscore his commitment to the rule of law and judicial independence.
Congratulations, Justice Bagchi!
