Max Planck Foundation continues EU-funded workshop series with the lower courts of South Sudan
From 15-17 January 2019, the Max Planck Foundation, in conjunction with the Judiciary of South Sudan held the second in a series of training sessions for the judges of the High Courts and County Courts in Juba. The workshop was entitled A Comparative Analysis of Legal Systems and was aimed at introducing participants to the different models of legal systems around the world and their application in comparative country contexts. The workshop was attended by judges from within Juba and, upon the invitation of the Judiciary, a number of judges who are normally based outside Juba.
The workshop was officially opened by the Chief Justice of South Sudan, HE Justice Chan Reec Madut, and the Director of Learning and Training in the South Sudan Judiciary, Justice Dr Benjamin Baak Deng, who both noted the significance of the topic to the everyday works of the participating judges. A representative of the Foundation also warmly welcomed all participants to the workshop.
The three-day workshop focused on the major legal systems of the world including the civil, common and mixed legal systems while examining their definitions, historical evolution, key characteristics and scope of application. In addition, the legal systems of various countries – including the legal system of South Sudan – were explored in an effort to examine the application of the various substantive and procedural legal principles underpinning each model. The final day also included a review session intended to recap the judicial doctrines discussed during the workshop.
The workshop, funded by the European Union, continues the implementation of the training component of the project: Strengthening the Rule of Law in South Sudan.