The USAID Rule of Law Program held a seminar for Georgian civil society organizations (CSOs) on advocacy strategies related to judicial appointments. The workshop was led by Professor Caroline Fredrickson, visiting professor at  Georgetown Law School and former President of the American Constitution Society (ACS). 

The workshop was attended by representatives of the Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary, Group of Independent Lawyers and Commentary Platform.

The CSO representatives received information on developing criteria for potential judicial nominees and strategies and tactics to identify and promote competent candidates. 

Professor Fredrickson shared the ACS’s experience related to different stages of the judicial selection pipeline: establishing candidate selection criteria, identifying areas where candidates can be 'recruited,' assisting candidates in the selection process, promoting candidates with the legislature, and waging social media campaigns in candidates’ support.            

Professor Fredrickson emphasized the importance of transparency and consistency to protect the CSOs' reputation in the process. The participants considered these stages with respect to the appointment of non-judge members of the High Council of Justice. 

The CSOs worked in groups and listed the statutory and non-statutory criteria applicable to candidates. They also discussed issues related to the 'recruitment' process, such as: setting up a selection committee, making an announcement about the campaign launch, filtering the candidates’ applications, and selecting and promoting nominees. The results were summed up as a draft action plan to be further discussed among interested CSOs.