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. Confirmed speakers include Marta Cartabia (former President of the Italian Constitutional Court and Minister of Justice), Kateřina Šimáčková (Judge at the European Court of Human Rights), Kees Sterk (senior Dutch judge, former President of the European Judicial Training Network, and former Vice President of the Dutch Judicial Council), Zdeněk Kühn (Judge at the Czech Constitutional Court and Professor of Legal Theory), and David Kosař (Professor of Constitutional Law specialising in judicial governance). 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. Applicants can apply for the online form even after this date and are not required to provide motivation letters.  

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