The links and publications below include resources for
U.S. judges preparing to meet with representatives of foreign judiciaries,
briefing materials, and information about international rule of law,
judicial reform, and international law and litigation.
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A
Primer on the Civil-Law System (1995)
70
pages
International
Judicial Relations Committee of the U.S. Judicial Conference
The Committee on International Judicial Relations coordinates the federal
judiciary's relationship with foreign judiciaries, agencies, and organizations
involved in promoting international judicial relations, expanding the
rule of law, and improving the administration of justice. It is one
of a network of committees established to support the Judicial Conference
of the United States, the policy-making body of the federal courts.
Orientation
for United States Judges Going Abroad (1999) 19 pages
This pamphlet offers information and guidance for American judges preparing
to meet with their counterparts from other countries.
The
World Factbook
Compiled by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), this annually updated
guide provides comprehensive political, economic, social, and geographic
coverage of every nation-state.
Traveler's
Health
Maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
this website offers a range of destination specific health information,
including current travel notices and general advice for seeking health
care abroad.
World
Citizens Guide (A brochure published by Business for Diplomatic
Action) 6 pages
Published by Business for Diplomatic Action, this brochure
offers practical advice for Americans traveling abroad
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Briefing Materials
FJC - IJR Judicial Ethics Hypotheticals
Federal
Courts and What They Do
Federal
Judicial Administration—chart (1997) 1 page
The
Federal Court System in the United States: An Introduction for
Judges and Judicial Administrators in Other Countries (AO publication is available on the U.S. Courts website in English,
French, Italian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, and Turkish)
FJC Powerpoint
Slides (Available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Malay, Russian, Serbian,
Spanish, Thai, Indonesian, Portuguese, Turkish, and Vietnamese)
The
U.S. Legal System: A Short Description (undated) 7 pages
(Available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Malay, Russian, Serbian, Spanish,
Thai, Indonesian, Portuguese, Turkish, and Vietnamese)
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International Rule of Law
American
Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
CEELI is a public service project of the American Bar Association that
advances the rule of law in the world by supporting the legal reform
process in Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East.
Accessible from this site is the CEELI Judicial Reform Index, a review
of judicial reform efforts in this region.
International Development
Law Organization
The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) is an inter-governmental
development organization that strives to encourage the use of legal resources
in the development process, help developing countries improve their negotiating
capabilities in development cooperation, and promote sustainable growth
through the improvement of the legal and judicial systems within transitioning
countries.
The
Arab Judicial Forum
The Arab Judicial Forum is a program of the President’s Middle
East Partnership Initiative administered by the U.S. Department of
State and is the first in a series of partnership activities on judicial
issues.
The International Network to Promote the
Rule of Law (INPROL)
INPROL seeks to turn "lessons learned" from previous experience
promoting the rule of law into lessons actually applied. This internet-based
knowledge network assists rule of law practitioners by providing them
access to relevant expertise, documents, and best practices.
The
World Bank: Legal and Judicial Reform
This website provides information about law and justice reform in developing
and transitioning countries, including insights into various approaches
to reform and analysis of experience with different reform components.
The
World Bank: Worldwide Legal and Judicial Indicators
The Legal and Judicial Sector at a Glance database provides access
to comparative information on court systems across over 100 developing
and developed countries. The database has been developed by the Legal
Vice Presidency's Knowledge Management Cluster (LEGKM) at the World
Bank as a tool for global knowledge sharing and for assisting legal
and judicial reform initiatives.
USAID
Democracy and Governance Center
Site provides an overview of the Agency's efforts to advance democracy
and good governance though programs aimed at strengthening the rule
of law, promoting genuinely competitive elections, increasing the development
of a politically active civil society, and enhancing government transparency
and accountability.
USAID
Technical Publication Series
Links to USAID rule of law-related guides covering such topics as ADR,
Case Tracking and Management, Fighting Corruption, Judicial Independence,
and the Role of the Media.
U.S.
State Department: Rule of Law Resources
Rule of Law-related links and publications collected by the U.S.
State Department.
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International Law and Litigation
FJC Conference: International
Law & Litigation for US Judges
What is International Law (Powerpoint)
Hague
Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (video)(streaming
video)
Federal Judicial Television Network
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child
Abduction provides a process for returning children who have been
abducted by a parent so that the other parent's custody rights can
be legally protected. While state and federal courts have concurrent
jurisdiction over these cases, an increasing number of cases are
being heard in federal courts. This program examines the Convention,
the enabling legislation, and the case law that has interpreted both.
Downloadable programs materials and useful Internet links are provided.
American
Society of International Law
The mission of the American Society of International Law is to foster
the study of international law and to promote the establishment and
maintenance of international relations on the basis of law and justice.
EISIL – Electronic
Information System for International Law
This database provides materials, websites, and online guides to
international law. Using EISIL, web searchers can locate the highest
quality primary materials and research publications available on the
Internet.
International
Bar Association
Organization principally aims to promote information exchanges
between legal associations worldwide, support judicial independence
efforts, and help ensure that lawyers remain able to practice their
profession without interference.
International
Judicial Monitor
An international law resource for judiciaries, justice sector professionals,
and the rule of law community around the world. Published by
the American Society of International Law and the International Judicial
Academy.
UN
Documentation: Research Guide
Offers an introduction, detailed listing, and overview of the UN's
principal legal bodies as well as the organization's affiliated courts
and tribunals.
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Additional Resources
Visit the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts' International
Judicial Relations website for presentation outlines, articles
and publications, useful links, and information about the activities
of the Judicial Conference Committee on International Judicial Relations.
Visit the About the Courts page
on this website for selected resources about the U.S. courts and legal
system, including speaking points about judicial independence, information
about judicial conduct and discipline, and links to organizations working
in the fields of judicial education and court administration.
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Bibliography
The publications and articles listed below may be helpful background
reading for judges and court staff preparing to meet with their foreign
counterparts. This list is not intended to be an exhaustive survey
of relevant materials.
Legal Systems of the World, A Political, Social, and Cultural Encyclopedia
Herbert M. Kritzer, Editor
ABC Clio (2002)
"The Advantages of the Civil Law Judicial Design as the Model
for Emerging Legal Systems," Charles H. Koch, Indiana Journal
of Global Legal Studies, Vol. 11 (2003)
“Legal and Judicial Reform through Development Assistance: Some
Lessons,” Stephen J. Toope, 48 McGill L.J. 357 (2003)
“Competing
Definitions of the Rule of Law: Implications for Practitioners,” Rachel
Kleinfeld Belton
Democracy and Rule of Law Project Number 55 (January 2005)
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
This publication can be downloaded for free on the Carnegie Endowment
website. Limited print copies are also available. To request a copy,
send an e-mail to pubs@CarnegieEndowment.org.
“Lessons
Not Learned: Problems with Western Aid for Law Reform in Post communist
Countries,” Wade Channell
Democracy and Rule of Law Project Number 57 (May 2005)
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
This publication can be downloaded for free on the Carnegie Endowment
website. Limited print copies are also available. To request a copy,
send an e-mail to pubs@CarnegieEndowment.org.
“Legalism
Sans Frontières?: U.S. Rule-of-Law Aid in the Arab World,” David
M. Mednicoff
Democracy and Rule of Law Project Number 61 (September 2005)
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
This publication can be downloaded for free on the Carnegie Endowment
website. Limited print copies are also available. To request a copy,
send an e-mail to pubs@CarnegieEndowment.org.
“Adversarial and Inquisitorial Models of Civil Procedure,” JA
Jolowisc, April 2003
ICLQ 52.2(281)
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Contact
To learn more about FJC international programs and materials, please contact: