On April 17, 2024, Judge Timothy Baland, a U.S. judge from Minnesota participating in judicial exchange activities under the USAID Rule of Law Program (Program), delivered a lecture on the Role of Youth in Promoting Justice to the students of the faculty of social sciences, business, and law at Gori State University.

In his opening remarks, Professor Ivane Balakhashvili from Gori State University expressed gratitude to the Program for providing this valuable opportunity. He emphasized that any future activities aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of the students would be warmly welcomed by the university.

Judge Baland started the lecture by presenting the judicial district maps of the state of Minnesota, showcasing the structure of the judicial system in each county of the state.

By involving the students in an interactive role-play, Judge Baland delved into the details of courtroom decorum and the journey to legal practice. A few attendees embraced the roles of court bailiffs, illustrating the established rules of conduct within a courtroom environment. At the closing of the lecture, there was an additional exercise in which students took on the role of judges and participated in the sentencing of a hypothetical case. Students noted that these exercises allowed them to understand in detail the legal profession's nuances.