The recent ABA Abroad Column recounts Judge Ramona G. See's recent visit to Georgia to attend a ROLI-sponsored conference to discuss and debate rule of law issues central to Georgian legal circles, as well as to honor the Georgian Bar Association's 100th Anniversary.
What started out as a meeting to convene with local judges to talk about their legal system and issues, turned into a dynamic, full-day conference, which Judge See addressed the logistical and legal challenges of high-profile cases in the United States, including media-involvement, courtroom and judicial security, and the ethics of the relationships between judges and attorneys.
"The president of the Georgian Bar Association, David Asatiani, welcomed the attendees and commented that the conference was a milestone for the Georgian bar as it assembled members of the bar, judges and lawyers who are not often brought together in a single forum. He expressed his sincere wish that there would be many future integrated engagements of the Georgian legal community. Only then did I realize the unique forum that I was addressing, and this explained the emotional question-and-answer periods that followed. ROLI has provided support for programs in Georgia in the past and Asatiani said he would welcome ROLI’s return to in-country support.
The strong presence of female Georgian judges and lawyers in the audience was no surprise to me given the country’s history. On a trip outside of the capital to see the ruins of the ancient city-fortress of Uplistsikhe, I learned of the 29-year reign of Tamar, the first female ruler of Georgia, who often makes internet “most powerful women in history” lists.
While I cannot imagine the challenges Tamar faced, as a female judge, I presented the logistical and legal challenges of high-profile cases in the United States. In the epicenter of celebrity and high media attention cases in the U.S., I have been personally involved in cases and a colleague of judges who have had to manage media-intensive cases involving well-known politicians, actors/actresses and music industry players. Georgian lawyers and judges have had to tackle their own recent challenges managing cases involving politicians, industry leaders and ethnic/regional diversity issues.
I stressed that in high-profile cases both judges and lawyers must have a plan before the trial starts, and not wait for the media to drive the process. I shared checklists with the attendees about everything from deciding whether the media in the courtroom should be allowed to use laptop computers, cell phones or other electronic devices for note taking to real-time transmission of trial testimony. Of course, cameras in the courtroom has been a challenge for courts throughout the U.S."
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| Judge Ramona G. See (in pink) was seated next to Georgian Bar Association President David Asatiani during the conference. Photo provided by Judge See. |
Read the full article, "An American judge gets a look at the rule of law in Georgia," written by Judge Ramona G. See, ABA ROLI Board Member and supervising judge in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in Torrance, California.
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