|
 |
The Connecticut-Pskov Partnership began in May of 2001 with an exploratory visit to Pskov by Judges Jonathan E. Silbert and Barry R. Schaller. They and Chief Regional Court Judge Anatoly Bodnar readily agreed on a plan that would focus initially on the reintroduction of jury trials in Pskov, and the Partnership was granted membership in RAROLC in August of that year. Since that first meeting, the project has held three seminars on jury trials with the cooperation and participation of the Rochester-Novgorod program, plus programs on plea bargaining, legal and judicial ethics, appeals, bar association development, justices of the peace, civil damages and evidence. (See Events page for details and photographs of all Partnership activities to date)
In addition to the seminars in Russia, Connecticut has hosted delegations led by Chief Judge Bodnar in 2002 and 2005. During the first of these, Chief Judge Bodnar, accompanied by Chief Court Administrator Nikolai Plyuschenkov and Regional Coordinator Elena Bystrova, focused on planning for the introduction of jury trials in Pskov and also laid the groundwork for future cooperation. Judge Bodnar and Ms Bystrova returned in March of 2005, along with Judge Luiza Yenislavskaya, president of Pskov’s new Bar Association, “Skyway,” for a visit focused on bar association leadership and development.
Thanks to the Open World Leadership Program at the Library of Congress, delegations of judges, justices of the peace, prosecutors, attorneys and academics have been visiting Connecticut with regularity since 2001. These visits have not only been of personal and professional benefit to the participants and their Connecticut counterparts, but they have also helped to broaden the scope and effectiveness of the overall efforts of the Connecticut-Pskov Partnership.
|
|
|
