JSCA Presents Recommendations for a Comprehensive Civil Justice Reform in Tucumán

Tucumán, May 19, 2017

The Justice Studies Center of the Americas (JSCA) offered recommendations for a civil justice reform in the province of Tucumán (Argentina) to the Inter-Branch Commission, which was formed to study civil and commercial procedure code changes for the province. The technical report was presented by JSCA Research and Projects Coordinator Marco Fandiño and JSCA researcher Consuelo Ghisolfo to the commission, which was presided over by legislator Marcelo Caponio.

Each member of the body –which is composed of representatives of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches as well as the province’s three universities, two bar associations, and members of the Tucumán Economic Sciences School alumni group- received the document.

JSCA Provides Training on Skills for the Adversarial System to Justice Operators and Graduate Students at Universidad de Montevideo

Montevideo, May 25, 2017

The second round of the training program offered by JSCA to Uruguayan judges, prosecutors, public defenders and police officials –the future stakeholders of the new criminal justice system- was recently held in Montevideo. Sixty individuals took part in the four-day program, which focused on “Strategies and Skills for Litigating in an Adversarial System.”

The activity was implemented through a technical cooperation agreement between JSCA and Uruguay’s Ministry of the Interior, which was signed in February by Minister Eduardo Bonomi and JSCA Executive Director Jaime Arellano.

Judicial Academies from the Region Meet in Buenos Aires

Santiago, May 23

The international seminar is directed at all justice sector institutions as well as the training schools and units for the region’s public prosecution and public defense services.

How were judicial academies created in Latin America? Do they only train judges? Is training mandatory or voluntary? What innovative practices can be highlighted and replicated in other countries? What is the role of judicial academies in justice system reforms?

These questions emerge from the observation that the Justice Studies Center of the Americas (JSCA) has engaged in through its work on the various institutions that engage in judicial training. The first judicial academies were created in the 1980s, and many of them continue to redesign their structures, functions and spheres of action. Given the scenario that is still evolving, there is a need to hold a meeting to exchange ideas and engage in reflection. In view of this, JSCA and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Argentina will hold the international seminar “Judicial Training in Latin America” in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, August 16.

Bolivian Supreme Court receives study on protective measures

May 23, 2017

Last Friday, a validation workshop was held in La Paz, Bolivia on a study of the application of protective measures in that country from the perspective of the dynamic produced during hearings. The Supreme Court requested that the study be conducted in the context of a Judicial Branch project supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The Justice Studies Center of the Americas (JSCA), an international agency that has studied the topic of protective measures, was asked to carry out the study. The Center and other local organizations have carried out several studies on pretrial detention in Bolivia. This new initiative focused on protective measures hearings, which are understood as the main spaces of action of the justice system.

JSCA Organizes Regional Competition on Experiences with Innovation in Civil Justice in the Region

Santiago, May 22, 2017

The Justice Studies Center of the Americas, JSCA, is organizing a regional competition to report on successful experiences related to civil justice reform processes in the Americas. This year the competition will be focused on civil judicial management issues.

The authors of the selected papers will be invited to present their work during the Judicial Management Seminar to be held during the second half of this year (location and dates to be determined). JSCA will cover their travel and lodging expenses and will provide them with a stipend to cover related costs.

First On Site Phase of Argentine Training Program on Criminal Procedure Reform Ends in Rosario

Rosario, May 11, 2017

The first on site phase of the sixth version of the Argentine Training Program on Criminal Procedure Reform has come to an end. This initial section, which lasted for four days, was held by JSCA and the Institute for Comparative Studies in the Criminal and Social Sciences (INECIP). A total of 50 legal professionals participated in the course, including members of the courts and public defender’s offices and attorneys in private practice from provinces throughout Argentina.

JSCA Publishes Baseline Study on Judicial Training in Latin America

May 8, 2017

This research is based on the study on best practices in the training of judges and prosecutors published by the European Judicial Academies Network in 2014. The findings identified three levels of practices in European Union (EU) judicial academies: promising practices (experimental and with potential but little empirical information), good practices (effective and with a degree of impact measurement and some potential for replicability) and best practices (those with the highest level of effectiveness). The European study compiled 147 practices from 23 judicial academies, which allowed it to cross-reference the data, foster inter-institutional cooperation in the region, and encourage the development of recommendations based on the study.