Promoting uses of technology that enhance the justice system and enable more efficient, timely, and accessible justice for all is a key responsibility of any modern judiciary. However, technology must be introduced thoughtfully and carefully: encouraging the use of technology and online hearings whilst also providing that fair trial rights are met, and transparent open justice is observed for hearings is vital for rule of law and human rights.
Speakers for this series offer wide-ranging, regional, and international perspectives. Guest speakers include judges, lawyers, academics, researchers, and leading voices from NGO and CSO organizations together with subject matter experts from European Institutions.
This initiative forms part of our work with the Judicial Network in Central and Eastern Europe. There are currently 25 judges from the region taking part and exploring topics such as E-justice, Remote Judging International Standards, Fair Trials, Rule of Law, and Human Rights.
Further details on the CEELI online Remote Judging course can be found here.
Seminar One:
Judging During the Pandemic; Safeguarding Rights and Judicial Wellness
Insights from Bulgaria and the US
The first webinar in this series is an excerpt from the introductory seminar in our inaugural blended learning course which we launched in mid-October at the Institute. Judge Jeremy Fogel, Executive Director, Berkeley Judicial Institute, California, and Judge Kacherilska from the Sofia Regional Court, Bulgaria present on the general impact of COVID and issues of resilience and wellness of judges and general experiences and aspects of videoconferencing and remote judging in the Region more generally.
Introductions by Christopher Lehmann, Exectutive Director of the CEELI Institute.
Panel:
Judge Radoslava Nikolaeva Kacherilska, Sofia Regional Court in Bulgaria.
Judge Jeremy Fogel (Ret.), Director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute.
Moderator: Rachel Murray, Professor of International Human Rights Law at the University of Bristol, Director Human Rights Implementation Centre at the University of Bristol.
Seminar Two:
International Standards and Remote Judging
This seminar discusses remote judging, how to determine urgency, and the applicability of international standards on fair trial and defendants’ rights. Andrea Huber (ODIHR) and Ilze Tralmaka (Fair Trials) offer their perspectives and provide an overview of the international standards and the right to a fair trial in particular the rights of the defence.
Panel:
Andrea Huber, Deputy Chief of Rule of Law at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
Ilze Tralmaka, Legal and Policy Officer at Fair Trials specializing in the right to a fair trial, specifically defence rights in criminal proceedings.
Moderator: Rachel Murray, Professor of International Human Rights Law at the University of Bristol, Director Human Rights Implementation Centre at the University of Bristol.
Please check back to view further webinars in this series. We hope you find them useful. If you have any queries please contact Freda.grealy@ceeli.eu