Judiciaries in Peril
Spotlight Webinar Series: ‘Judiciaries In Peril In Central & Eastern Europe’
In November 2020, the CEELI Institute launched a new Spotlight Series of Webinars on the topic: ‘Judiciaries in Peril in Central & Eastern Europe.’ Each episode in the series shines a spotlight on pressing issues challenging the judiciary in key countries of the region, including Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Montenegro, and Ukraine. Each session explores the challenges faced in a particular country that undermine and imperil that nation’s judiciary, answering questions including:
- What is the nature of governmental attacks on the courts and their independence?
- What is behind current attacks on the judiciary?
- How do these attacks threaten judicial independence?
- Are there any solutions or remedies?
Upcoming Sessions
Judiciary In Peril: Romania Case Study
Monday, 8 March 2021 (80 minutes)
Our fourth session shines a spotlight on Romania’s judiciary, outlining the particular challenges facing that country’s judges. The conversation will be led by Laura Ștefan, Executive Director Expert Forum, Chairperson of the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative Secretariat, and a former director in the Romanian Ministry of Justice; Ramona Strugariu, Member of the European Parliament; and Judge Andrea Chiș, Judge at Cluj Appellate Court, and member of the Romanian Superior Council of Magistracy.
The Spotlight series will be held via Zoom and available in English and Romanian.
Ramona Strugariu
Andrea Chis
Laura Ștefan
Past Sessions
Judiciary In Peril: Montenegro Case Study
Tuesday, 26 January 2021
Our third session shines a spotlight on Montenegro’s judiciary, outlining the particular challenges facing that country’s judges. The conversation will be led by Mirza Ademovic (Judge in Podgorica Basic Court), Marijana Lakovic-Draskovic, Former Director of Minister of Justice, and Ivan Vukcevic (Project Coordinator for CeMI).
The Spotlight series will be held via Zoom and available in English and Montenegrin.
Marijana Lakovic-Draskovic
Mirza Ademovic
Ivan Vukcevic
Past Sessions
Judiciary In Peril: Poland Case Study
Tuesday, 1 December 2020
The second webinar session in this series spotlights the judiciary in Poland and outlines the peril it faces. The conversation was led by Krystian Markiewicz, President of Iustitia; Michał Wawrykiewicz, Wolne Sądy; and Malgorzata Szuleka, Helsińska Fundacja Praw Człowiek.
Michal Wawrykiewicz
Małgorzata Szuleka
Krystian Markiewicz
Past Sessions
Judiciary In Peril: Bulgaria Case Study
Tuesday, 17 November 2020
The premier session in this series shines a spotlight on the judiciary in Bulgaria, outlining how that judiciary is in peril and the particular challenges facing it. The conversation was led by Judge Kalin Kalpakchiev, Head of the Bulgarian Judges Association, and Bilyana Wegertseder, Director of Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives (BILI Foundation).
Bilyana Wegertseder
Kalin Kalpakchiev
Central & Eastern European Judicial Exchange Network
The CEELI Institute’s Central and Eastern European Judicial Network, now in its eighth year, is comprised of some of the best and brightest rising judges from eighteen countries who gather regularly to share best practices on issues of judicial independence, integrity, accountability, and court management. As international in-person meetings are likely to be limited for some time to come, the Spotlight Series ensures that the Network can continue to meet its mandate to promote judicial independence, and improve judicial integrity and court efficiency in Central and Eastern Europe, despite the global lockdowns resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.