WilmerHale will host the DC Bar International Law Section/Inter-American Legal Affairs Committee panel onJudicial Independence in Latin America: rule of law and transborder consequences.

Through the years many judicial systems in Latin America have struggled to achieve independence and afford due process. Inefficiency, corruption, and political control are just some of the malaises that have affected this essential institution of democracy. While the victims are primarily the citizens of these countries, the denial of justice occurring in many Latin American countries has international consequences given the globalized world we live in. One salient example is when US courts are presented with actions seeking to enforce foreign judgments from such weak judicial systems. Our panel of speakers will address these issues as they pertain to Latin America. The topics will include an overview of rule of law and judicial independence issues in Latin America and the standard used by international law,US courts (especially in the context of enforcing foreign judgments), and international organizations and other public sector entities in determining whether judicial independence exists.

For more information:http://www.dcbar.org/for_lawyers/events/details.cfm?eventCD=120973&isPackage=0