Judge Timothy Baland, a U.S. judge from the State of Minnesota, conducted a workshop for judges and court personnel of the Akhaltsikhe District Court.

The workshop focused on "Improving Case Management: Before, During, and After the Hearing." Eleven court members attended the workshop, including judges, a court manager, legal officers, and judicial assistants. During the workshop, Judge Baland described how Case Management Conference (CMC) works and explained its advantages. The CMC is a step before a trial date is scheduled, unless a judge deems it unnecessary. The primary objective of the CMC is to attempt to resolve some or all of the legal issues at hand. In certain instances, successful resolution during the CMC may obviate the need for a trial altogether, while in others, it can streamline and simplify the trial process. When a complete resolution isn't achieved during the CMC, and a trial remains necessary, the CMC serves as a vital preparatory phase for the impending trial.

Judge Baland provided recommendations for enhancing the existing motion practice and encouraged the judges to implement best practices when rendering decisions.

Judge Baland also offered insights gained from his four-month mentoring mission at the Akhaltsikhe Court, where he observed the Court's procedures for handling civil and administrative cases. He noted the Court's heavy caseload and proposed strategies for better managing such a high volume of work. The Georgian judges agreed that Georgian law allows for adoption of the measures recommended by Judge Baland.

The workshop also provided an opportunity for the judges and legal officers to discuss the challenges they face during hearings, particularly issues related to the qualifications and sense of responsibility maintained by local attorneys the lack of which can sometimes lead to unnecessary postponement of hearings and long delays in reaching final decisions.