US ambassador: Georgia has seen “important progress” in improving efficiency of judiciary

Kelly Degnan, the United States ambassador to Georgia, on Tuesday said the country had seen some “important progress” in improving the efficiency in the operation of its judiciary.

In her remarks on the effects of judicial study tours involving law professionals from the two countries, Degnan noted the need for authorities to continue the work.

We bring American judges here for the [Georgian] judges to exchange best practices and lessons learned. What I have heard from all of them is that they would be interested in more study visits, more training, more of these kinds of exchanges because it’s so valuable when judges come together and share what works well in their courtrooms”, the diplomat said.

She stressed the training and professional exchanges had been “very well” received and contributed “greatly” to the effort to modernise Georgia’s judicial system.

That is what the United States has been doing for many years. Georgia has seen some important progress in improving efficiency in the operation of its judiciary. What is needed now is to continue that work. It’s clear from the 12 priorities that the EU has laid out”, she said in reference to the conditions for granting the country the European Union membership candidate status.

Degnan added the US was “very proud” to be able to support Georgia’s judges in their efforts to improve the “operation and the efficiency” of their courtrooms and their ability to administer the law based on the evidence that “is in front of them, and without interference”.