Gathering of Argentine and U.S. Judges and Academics

September 2, 2009

Judges and Academics Symposium

A gathering of Argentine and U.S. judges and legal experts was held at the Association of Magistrates and Officers of the National Body of Justice (AMFJN) on September 2.

The one-day gathering was organized by “Justice Undergoing Change”, a program organized since 2001 by the U.S. Embassy in collaboration with Fundación Libra, the Association of Magistrates (AMFJN), the NGO Consortium Argenjus and the Federal Board of Courts and Higher Courts of Justice of the Argentine provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (JUFEJUS).

Participants from the United States included Judge Antony J. Scirica, President of the Judicial Conference of the United States, Judge Barbara Rothstein, Director of the Federal Judicial Center, Jeff Minear, Administrative Assistant to Chief Justice John Roberts;  Mira Gur-Arie, International Programs Director for the Federal Judicial Center and Prof. Geoffrey Hazzard, Director Emeritus of the American Law Institute. 

Argentine participants included Dr. Ricardo Gustavo Recondo, President of AMFJN and host of the event, members of the Board of Directors of AMFJN, federal, provincial and Autonomous City of Buenos Aries judges, representatives from civil organizations, judicial officers and lawyers.

During the gathering, participants discussed how their respective judicial systems are organized and work, the role of the Judicial Conference of the United States, court management, legal training programs, international cooperation, legal and judicial ethics; among other topics.  

Argentine and U.S. experts enjoyed a fruitful exchange of experiences and analyzed possible future courses of action for the continuous improvement of the legal systems of both countries.