organised by EUI– in Florence + online

Overview

The digitalisation process and, in particular, the development of automated decision based technologies has affected directly and indirectly the judicial system. On the one hand, judicial operators are asked to present and decide cases where automated decision-based tools have been adopted, raising issues related to fairness and transparency as well as compliance with fundamental rights. In this context, cases addressing surveillance, facial recognition and filter bubbles emerged, highlighting the impact of AI on the exercise of freedom of expression, the right to non-discrimination and the right to privacy. In this context, the recently adopted AI Act will provide the legal requirements to be adopted by developers and manufacturers, which will then be checked out by courts in case of disputes.

On the other hand, not less important, the deployment of automated decision-based technologies has also started to be embedded in the activities of courts, including case management and facilitation of the decision-making process, up until the creation of online courts. Although the pandemic has fast-forwarded this process, several are the questions that still emerge as regards the independence, accountability and impartiality of such systems.

The training workshop aims to address the abovementioned dimensions, providing the participants with guidelines and practical tools in order to assess whether the AI-based technologies ensure the fundamental rights principles embedded in the EU Charter.

Framework: This workshop is offered within the European Commission’s funded project TRIIAL 2 – TRust, Independence, Impartiality and Accountability of Legal professionals under the EU Charter (project no. 101089737, JUST-JTRA-EJTR-AG-2020). The TRIIAL 2 Project provides training activities and tools for judges, attorneys, and prosecutors on the European rule of law, mutual trust, judicial independence, impartiality and accountability (see the dedicated website here).

Target group

Public prosecutors, attorneys and judges from European Union (EU) countries. The training will be in English and opened to those with both basic and experienced knowledge of EU law and ECHR.
The Workshop will host 40 participants, of which 15 will be in person and 25 online.

Participation is free of charge.

For the 15 in-person participants, the travel, accommodation and meals at the venue are covered by the organizer.
Participants will be provided with certificates of participation.

Application

The deadline for the submission of online applications is 9 October 2024.

Submit your application, including the documents mentioned below, to cjc@eui.eu. You should mention in the title of your email whether you want to participate in-person or online.
Italian judges are invited to submit their applications here: https://forms.office.com/e/uYkcAQYRH2.  Please follow the procedure described here. For questions, please contact Gianandrea Chesi at: gianandrea.chesi@scuolamagistratura.it
Romanian attorneys are invited to submit their applications to: veronica.morecut@unbr.ro.

The following documents shall be attached to the application:

1. CV in English (including a section on proof of knowledge of English)
2. A short motivation letter (max 2 pages) outlining the candidate’s specific reasons for applying to a Workshop on Rule of law and predictive justice (please describe how your professional activity correlates to the workshop’s field of interest and how you could both benefit from and contribute to the Workshop in this field)

Selection Procedure

The assessment of applications will be based on the following criteria:

1. 1. 1. Gender and age balanced;
      2. Geographically balanced;
      3. Balance in the judicial hierarchy: both higher and lower instance courts shall be represented among selected participants;
      4. Trainers will have priority in selection (please refer to relevant training responsibilities in your CV);
      5. Knowledge of and experience with fundamental rights and rule of law issues;
      6. Good knowledge of English;
   1. Single participation within the same Training Project (TRIIAL 2): in principle, no participant can take part in more than one Workshop among those offered within the TRIIAL 2 Project.

EUI will select 40 legal practitioners. After the exhaustion of the 15 in person places, the remaining ones will be allocated to online participation.

For any information on the workshop or doubts concerning the call for application, please contact federica.casarosa@eui.eu and madalina.moraru@eui.eu.

Outcome of the Workshop

■ You will receive a certificate of participation.
■ You will be able to understand and explain the main legal issues relating to the European rule of law (the training’s “core”).
■ You will receive access to all TRIIAL 2 learning materials available in the e-learning platform.

You will also be able:

• to acquire the knowledge on existing caselaw on AI-based technologies
• to become familiar with the EU regulation concerning the application of AI-based technologies
• to understand the different legal pathways in Europe to protect human rights
• to determine whether the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU is applicable in a certain case or not
• to become part of a network of legal practitioners, activists, and scholars dealing with similar issues that could provide support for future questions.

organised by EUI– in Florence + online

Overview

The digitalisation process and, in particular, the development of automated decision based technologies has affected directly and indirectly the judicial system. On the one hand, judicial operators are asked to present and decide cases where automated decision-based tools have been adopted, raising issues related to fairness and transparency as well as compliance with fundamental rights. In this context, cases addressing surveillance, facial recognition and filter bubbles emerged, highlighting the impact of AI on the exercise of freedom of expression, the right to non-discrimination and the right to privacy. In this context, the recently adopted AI Act will provide the legal requirements to be adopted by developers and manufacturers, which will then be checked out by courts in case of disputes.

On the other hand, not less important, the deployment of automated decision-based technologies has also started to be embedded in the activities of courts, including case management and facilitation of the decision-making process, up until the creation of online courts. Although the pandemic has fast-forwarded this process, several are the questions that still emerge as regards the independence, accountability and impartiality of such systems.

The training workshop aims to address the abovementioned dimensions, providing the participants with guidelines and practical tools in order to assess whether the AI-based technologies ensure the fundamental rights principles embedded in the EU Charter.

Framework: This workshop is offered within the European Commission’s funded project TRIIAL 2 – TRust, Independence, Impartiality and Accountability of Legal professionals under the EU Charter (project no. 101089737, JUST-JTRA-EJTR-AG-2020). The TRIIAL 2 Project provides training activities and tools for judges, attorneys, and prosecutors on the European rule of law, mutual trust, judicial independence, impartiality and accountability (see the dedicated website here).

Target group

Public prosecutors, attorneys and judges from European Union (EU) countries. The training will be in English and opened to those with both basic and experienced knowledge of EU law and ECHR.
The Workshop will host 40 participants, of which 15 will be in person and 25 online.

Participation is free of charge.

For the 15 in-person participants, the travel, accommodation and meals at the venue are covered by the organizer.
Participants will be provided with certificates of participation.

Application

The deadline for the submission of online applications is 3 November 2024 (extended deadline) – only for ONLINE participation .

Submit your application, including the documents mentioned below, to cjc@eui.eu. You should mention in the title of your email whether you want to participate in-person or online.
Italian judges are invited to submit their applications here: https://forms.office.com/e/uYkcAQYRH2.  Please follow the procedure described here. For questions, please contact Gianandrea Chesi at: gianandrea.chesi@scuolamagistratura.it
Romanian attorneys are invited to submit their applications to: veronica.morecut@unbr.ro.

The following documents shall be attached to the application:

1. CV in English (including a section on proof of knowledge of English)
2. A short motivation letter (max 2 pages) outlining the candidate’s specific reasons for applying to a Workshop on Rule of law and predictive justice (please describe how your professional activity correlates to the workshop’s field of interest and how you could both benefit from and contribute to the Workshop in this field)

Selection Procedure

The assessment of applications will be based on the following criteria:

1. 1. 1. Gender and age balanced;
      2. Geographically balanced;
      3. Balance in the judicial hierarchy: both higher and lower instance courts shall be represented among selected participants;
      4. Trainers will have priority in selection (please refer to relevant training responsibilities in your CV);
      5. Knowledge of and experience with fundamental rights and rule of law issues;
      6. Good knowledge of English;
   1. Single participation within the same Training Project (TRIIAL 2): in principle, no participant can take part in more than one Workshop among those offered within the TRIIAL 2 Project.

EUI will select 25 legal practitioners for online participation.

For any information on the workshop or doubts concerning the call for application, please contact federica.casarosa@eui.eu and madalina.moraru@eui.eu.

Outcome of the Workshop

■ You will receive a certificate of participation.
■ You will be able to understand and explain the main legal issues relating to the European rule of law (the training’s “core”).
■ You will receive access to all TRIIAL 2 learning materials available in the e-learning platform.

You will also be able:

• to acquire the knowledge on existing caselaw on AI-based technologies
• to become familiar with the EU regulation concerning the application of AI-based technologies
• to understand the different legal pathways in Europe to protect human rights
• to determine whether the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU is applicable in a certain case or not
• to become part of a network of legal practitioners, activists, and scholars dealing with similar issues that could provide support for future questions.

Hybrid Cross-Border Training Workshop for Judges, Prosecutors, Attorneys, and other Legal Professionals

Overview

Effective court administration and judicial independence are cornerstones of the rule of law. However, the precise requirements for achieving these values, along with the roles of political branches, courts, and supranational institutions in securing them, remain complex and sometimes ambiguous. This workshop will offer judges, prosecutors, and other legal professionals a platform to engage in in-depth discussions on contemporary issues in judicial governance and the rule of law. The focus will be on three critical areas that are essential for modern courts but have received limited attention: communication strategies of courts and judges, the regulation of judges’ extrajudicial activities, and the digitalization of judicial systems.

Regarding communication, the workshop will explore how courts and judges should interact with the public today, particularly whether they should rely on channels beyond the traditional approach of “speaking through their judgments,” and, if so, which ones. Should courts or judges consider using social media platforms like Twitter? If so, in what way?

On the topic of extrajudicial activities, discussions will address whether the benefits of judges being simultaneously or previously involved in politics, academia, or business outweigh the risks associated with holding multiple roles. The workshop will also examine the advantages and disadvantages of former political officeholders becoming judges and vice versa.

Finally, the segment on digitalization will cover the main challenges courts face in modernizing their systems and the roles of supranational, political, and judicial actors in this process. What are the potential gains and losses from digitalizing judiciaries and their administration?

Each topic will be explored through an analysis of the benefits and challenges of various governance models, drawing insights from case law and the experiences of national and supranational courts. Participants will also engage with the latest academic perspectives on the role of judicial governance bodies, such as court presidents and judicial councils, in court administration.

The workshop will feature contributions from both academic experts and legal practitioners across Europe, facilitating an exchange of perspectives.

This workshop is part of the European Commission’s funded project TRIIAL 2 – TRust, Independence, Impartiality, and Accountability of Legal Professionals under the EU Charter – part 2 (project no. 101089737, JUST-2022-JTRA). The TRIIAL 2 project offers training and tools for judges, attorneys, and prosecutors on European rule of law, mutual trust, judicial independence, impartiality, and accountability. Further details can be found on the dedicated project website.

Target Group

This workshop is designed for judges, public prosecutors, and attorneys from EU countries. Legal professionals, policymakers, and judicial clerks (judges in training) who work on issues related to court administration, judicial governance, or any of the mentioned topics are also welcome to apply. The training will be conducted in English.

The workshop will host 40 participants, with 15 attending in person and 25 joining online. Participation is free of charge. For in-person participants, the organizer will cover travel, accommodation, and meals at the venue. Certificates of participation will be provided.

Application and Selection Process

Applications should be submitted to ondrej.kadlec@law.muni.cz, specifying in the subject line whether you wish to attend in person or online. The deadline for applications is 15 December 2024.

1. A brief CV in English.
2. A short motivation letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining your reasons for applying, detailing how your professional experience aligns with the workshop’s topics, and describing how you would benefit from and contribute to the discussions.

The selection process aims to identify participants who will contribute to disseminating project results. Candidates are expected to have a general understanding of and experience with the workshop’s subject matter. Prior participation in similar training programs is not mandatory, nor will be a disadvantage.

Selected candidates should commit to active participation in the workshop, including preparation by reviewing materials that will be distributed in advance.

Selection Criteria:

1. Gender, age, and geographical balance.
2. Balance across the judicial hierarchy, with representation from both higher and lower courts.
3. Priority for trainers (please indicate relevant training roles in your CV).
4. Knowledge of and experience with fundamental rights and rule of law issues.
5. Proficiency in English.
6. Single participation within the same Training Project (TRIIAL 2): generally, participants may attend only one workshop within the TRIIAL 2 Project.

Applicants will be notified of the selection results by 20 December 2024.

Workshop Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, you will:

• Understand and articulate key legal issues in judicial governance and the rule of law.
• Identify and critically assess relevant EU law and ECHR standards and case law on court administration.
• Recognize internal and external threats to the rule of law through judicial administration and understand your role in upholding this fundamental value.
• Gain insights into various challenges and solutions related to judicial administration from across Europe.
• Join a network of practitioners and scholars dealing with similar issues, facilitating future collaboration.

Learning Methods:

• A two-day hybrid workshop including:
  • Lectures and discussions,
  • Two hypothetical case sessions, where participants address real legal scenarios in small groups,
  • An interactive roundtable discussion.
• Preparatory materials distributed to participants:
  • Thematic booklets on current issues and case law concerning judicial administration
  • Recorded lectures
  • Case notes analyzing relevant national and international jurisprudence

Contact for more Information

For any questions about the workshop or the application process, please contact Ondřej Kadlec at ondrej.kadlec@law.muni.cz

Draft programme