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In 1988, the cities and towns that make up Greater Portland, Maine established a vibrant Sister City relationship with the city of Archangel in Northwest Russia.
In 1997, Maine's Chief Justice, at the request of the Vermont Rule of Law organization and recognizing the strong foundation built by the Greater Portland/City of Archangel relationship, established the Maine/Archangel Oblast Rule of Law partnership.
Since that time, there have been many exchange delegations between the legal communities of Maine and the Archangel Oblast. Delegations have included judges, law professors, prosecutors, criminal defense lawyers, commercial lawyers, corrections officials and legislators. The partnership has formed legal clinics at Archangel law schools, provided jury trial training for the criminal justice system, published decisions of the Archangel Supreme Court, trained district court judges in domestic violence cases and assisted the Archangel legislature, or the Regional Assembly of Deputies.
The partnership plans to explore a number of new areas of law in the months and years to come. Of particular interest are: commercial law and commercial disputes that involve programs and exchanges with Arbitrage judges, dispute resolution and arbitration and code of conduct for judges and lawyers. Maine/Archangel members are also interested in establishing shelters for abused women.
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