News
Asian Lawyers and Judges Meet to Discuss Ways to Combat Corruption in Justice Sector
In partnership with the Lawyers Council of Thailand (TLC), the Rule of Law Initiative co-hosted a conference entitled “Anti-Corruption: The Role of Lawyers, the Bar and the Bench in Preventing and Combating Corruption Within the Justice System,” on Feb. 19–20, 2007, at the U.N. Conference Centre in Bangkok. Read more »»
Rule of Law Initiative Convenes Bar Leadership Roundtable in Bangkok
In February, bar leaders from 15 countries convened in Bangkok to discuss their activities and exchange thoughts on how to work more closely together to strengthen lawyers and bar associations across the Asia region. The Rule of Law Initiative Asia Division, in partnership with the Thai Lawyers Council, convened the program as an adjunct to their joint conference on combating corruption in the justice system. Read more »»
- ABA ROLI Co-hosts Seminar on Independence of the Judiciary
- ABA ROLI and IPB Publishes Annotation of the Code of Professional Responsibility
Programs
Judicial Ethics Seminar
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| Judicial Ethics Seminar in UN Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand |
On September 18–19, 2006, the Asia Division, in cooperation with the Office of the Judiciary, conducted a two-day seminar entitled “Judicial Ethics and Professional Responsibility: A Comparative Perspective from the U.S. and U.K.” The noteworthy panel of experts included Judge Clifford Wallace, of the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit; Mr. Jonathan Creer, Head of Judicial HR in the Judicial Office supporting the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London; and Judge James C. Kingsley, Chairperson, Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission. The event was opened by the President of the Thai Supreme Court and was attended by over 170 judges, who exchanged ideas on review and revision of the judicial code of ethics.
Public Awareness Raising
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| Charles Caruso on Thai Television Show with Dej-Udom Krairit, President of LCT in July 2006 |
In conjunction with the Council of Thai Lawyers, the Asia Division has sponsored three live TV talk shows designed to raise awareness of public on legal issues. The first show aired July 19, 2006 and addressed “Lawyers and the public interest.” The Asia Division’s regional anti-corruption advisor and the president of the Thai Lawyers Council addressed fundamentals of attorney-client relationship, conflicts of interest, and attorney-client privilege. In September 2006, Judge Clifford Wallace of the U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, discussed the meaning and role of an independent judiciary with the president of the Lawyers Council of Thailand and the chair of the LCT Ethics Committee. The third and final show addressed the role of prosecutors. Mr. Brian Pearce, Resident Legal Advisor with the US Embassy in Bangkok, and Mr. Sithichoke Srichareon, Chaiman of LCT Conduct Committee discussed prosecutor ethics and answered questions from the public.
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| Professor Jim Moliterno speaks to teachers at Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand |
Legal Education Ethics Curriculum Development
The Asia Division has established a partnership with Eastern Asia University and Assumption University in Bangkok. With the pro bono assistance of ethics professors from the U.S., the Asia Division is working with these universities to develop an ethics curriculum for law students. In early spring 2007, the Asia Division hosted a training workshop for law professors on developing ethics curriculum and the use of interactive teaching methodology. The goal is to introduce new way of teaching ethics into the legal curriculum in Fall 2007.
Lawyers Ethics Seminars
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| Participants at Lawyer Ethics Seminar in Chiang Mai, Thailand |
The Asia Division is hosting a series of workshops for Thai lawyers on legal ethics, focusing on a comparative perspective. In recent seminars, experts from the U.S. and Japan have presented information on issues such as conflicts of interest, confidentiality, communication with clients, and attorney advertising. Throughout the seminars, Thai lawyers have discussed specific proposed revisions to the code of ethics for Thai lawyers. After completion of all 10 seminars, suggestions will be presented to the Board of Councilors, the governing ethics body of the Council of Thai Lawyers, for consideration.
To date, workshops have been held in November 2006 in Chiang Mai, December 2006 in Bangkok, February 2007 in Phisanulok & Songkhla, March 2007 in Phetburi & Suratthani. Future seminars will be held from May though June 2007 in the provinces of Ubonratchathani, Khon Kaen, Chanthaburi and Ayutthaya.
Prosecutor Ethics Seminars
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| Panel at Prosecutor Ethics Seminar in Bangkok, Thailand |
In cooperation with the Thailand Criminal Law Institute, Office of the Attorney General, the Asia Division hosted the first in a series of five prosecutors ethics seminars in Bangkok in June 2006. Entitled “Prosecutor Ethics and Professional Responsibility: A Comparative Perspective from the US and Singapore.”
Due to the positive response to this seminar, four additional seminars are planned in Suratthani, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai and Phetburi provinces from March through July 2007.
Background
In early 2006, with funding from the U.S. Department of State, the Asia Division began implementing a program to enhance and promote integrity in Thailand’s legal system. Under the program, the Asia Division works in partnership with law faculties, lawyers, prosecutors and judges to improve and strengthen codes of ethics and professional conduct.
The Asia Division will also be working to strengthen the skills and capacity of several newly established institutions, including the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions and the National Counter Corruption Commission. The Asia Division, in partnership with the Kenan Institute Asia, has also worked to support the Thai Council of State in its efforts to develop an effective class action law. Activities included videoconferences, a U.S. study tour for Thai judges, and a workshop in Bangkok.
