As part of its ongoing effort to expand its role in the process of selecting judges, representatives of the Georgian Bar Association (GBA) embarked on a study visit in Washington DC and New York to learn on how U.S. bar associations engage in the judicial selection process.  

The visit’s participants included GBA Chairman David Asatiani, Executive Director Giorgi Tshekhani, Chair and Co-chair of the Justice and Judicial Reforms Committee, as well as heads of the GBA Training Center and Analytical Committee. 

It took place from June 3-13, 2024, and was organized by the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), in collaboration with the USAID Rule of Law Program.

In Washington DC, the group met representatives of ABA ROLI, including the Executive Director of their global programs and received insights on the organization’s global work in rule of law. As part of DC meetings, the Georgian delegation met with the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary which is tasked with evaluating the qualifications of all nominees to the U.S./ Supreme Court, the Circuit Courts of Appeals and District Courts. Notable meetings included a visit to the D.C Bar, where Chief Executive Officer Robert Spagnoletti provided a comprehensive overview of the Bar’s involvement in the evaluation of judicial nominees, having two seats at the Judicial Nomination Commission (JNC).  The JNC screens and recommends to the President of the United States candidates for appointment to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and District of Columbia Court of Appeals. The JNC Chair, the Honorable Marie C. Johns and the Vice-Chair Benjamin F. Wilson, provided an in-depth overview of the criteria the Commission uses to evaluate nominees as well as a step-by-step guide to the process.

The study tour included meetings with the Maryland State Bar Association and the Chair of the Baltimore County Judicial Nominating Commission Jason St. John, Esq. who explained its process for evaluating judicial nominations.

The second part of the study visit took place in New York, where GBA representatives met with the President of New York State Bar Domenick Napoletano as well as New York City Bar representatives, including members of its Judiciary Committee.

The final meetings of the study tour included a visit to the international “think-tank”, the Brennan Center for Justice and Center for Justice Innovations. Representatives from the Center gave an overview of judicial nomination and selection processes and discussed advocating for reforms.