NETHERLANDS: IRAQI JUDGES MEET U.S. SUPREME JUSTICES IN THE HAGUE TO DISCUSS THE RULE OF LAW IN FUTURE IRAQ

Record ID: 647427

  • Title: NETHERLANDS: IRAQI JUDGES MEET U.S. SUPREME JUSTICES IN THE HAGUE TO DISCUSS THE RULE OF LAW IN FUTURE IRAQ
  • Date: 5th May 2004
  • Summary: (U6) SCHEVENINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS (MAY 5, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV EXTERIOR KURHAUS HOTEL, VENUE FOR MEETING BETWEEN IRAQI AND U.S JUDGES; U.S. SUPREME COURT JUDGES WALKING IN, FOLLOWED BY IRAQI JUDGE (2 SHOTS) 0.25 2. SV ZUHAR J. AL MALIKY SITTING DOWN TO GIVE PRESS CONFERENCE/SLV JUDGES SITTING DOWN (2 SHOTS) 0.32 3. MCU (English) ANTHONY KENNEDY, JUDGE AT U.S. SUPREME COURT, SAYING "What we learned, I didn't know from the press, or having any background meetings, is that there is a judiciary in Iraq that is functioning. They are dedicated, splendid people. For 35 years they have been under a repressive regime and it is so exciting and inspiring to see that they once again can be judges." 0.58 4. PAN JUDGES GIVING PRESS CONFERENCE 1.08 5. MCU (English) ZUHAR J. AL MALIKY, IRAQI JUDGE, SAYING "Until now we are still discussing different models and we are trying to reach our own model of this system in order to be acceptable in our own society. And we are trying to build our own experience with the help of our friends in the international community." 1.37 6. CU/SV JOURNALIST; PHOTOGRAPHERS (2 SHOTS) 1.43 7. MCU (English) SANDRA DAY O'CONNER, JUDGE AT U.S. SUPREME COURT, SAYING "We talked about the American experience in having a separation of powers constitutionally established. And we intend to talk about the concepts of judicial independence tomorrow." 2.00 8. SV AL MALIKY WALKING OUT, FOLLOWED BY JOURNALISTS 2.09 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th May 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SCHEVENINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Reuters ID: LVA81S8WH4HNVAGH9ROZX929SC57
  • Story Text: Iraqi judges meet U.S. supreme justices in the Hague
    to discuss the rule of law in future Iraq.



    Iraqi judges and U.S. Supreme Court justices
    expressed hope on Wednesday (May 5, 2004) that the rule of law
    can be established in Iraq after a day-long meeting in the
    Netherlands.

    The U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority organised
    the two-day talks near The Hague, the home of several
    international courts, for Iraqi judges to meet legal
    experts from around the world as they deliberate the shape
    of a new constitution.

    U.S. Supreme Court justices Sandra Day O'Connor and
    Anthony Kennedy discussed the rule of law and the
    principles of federalism and separation of powers with 28
    Iraqi judges in a beachfront hotel in Scheveningen just
    outside The Hague.

    "What we learned is that there is a judiciary in Iraq
    that is functioning. They are dedicated, splendid people.

    For 35 years they have been under a repressive regime and
    it is so exciting and inspiring to see that they once again
    can be judges," said Kennedy at a news conference at the
    end of the first day.

    "We are still discussing different models and we are
    trying to reach our own model in order to be acceptable in
    our own society with the help of our friends in the
    international community," said Zuher Al-Maliki, a senior
    Iraqi criminal court judge.

    O'Connor and Kennedy, who have helped advise other
    countries in transition such as South Africa and states of
    the former Soviet Union, said they were hopeful for Iraqi
    justice.

    The judges discussed the U.S. model of the separation of powers
    between executive, judiciary and legislature as
    well as the system of federal states and questions of how
    judges should be chosen and trained in Iraq and ethical
    codes of conduct.


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