The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Rule of Law Program (Program) implemented by the East-West Management Institute (EWMI), is pleased to continue its judicial exchange programming.

The purpose of this programming is to strengthen the professional capacity of civil and administrative judges in Georgia to work effectively and efficiently, and to gain knowledge and skills in both specific and more general subject areas. This aim will be achieved by supporting activities that enable Georgian judges to have more direct interaction with U.S. judges, administrators, judicial educators, and relevant legal actors. Activities will include study visits and placements (secondments) of Georgian judges to the United States during which judges will interact with American judges, observe courtroom procedure, learn U.S. best practices for managing a court docket, and gain knowledge on legal topics of relevance to Georgian practice. In addition, the Program will also keep an “open-door” for judges to submit original, targeted ideas for individual study and professional development for short periods of time outside Georgia.

Secondment

Secondment participants will be limited to civil and administrative judges and magistrate judges as well as first-instance judges hearing different types of cases, including civil, administrative, and criminal cases. 

A judge who is selected for a secondment will be sent to a U.S court for an in-depth placement of approximately 10 working days. During the secondment, the Georgian judge will be paired with one or more U.S judges and will observe how U.S judges operate both inside and outside the courtroom.

To the extent possible, each judge's placement will be adapted to the interests of that judge. As mentioned above, the placement will provide the Georgian judge the opportunity for intense interaction with U.S judges on general topics such as, court and case management techniques, courtroom management skills, how to work with clerks and other court staff, communications with counsel and litigants, how to handle sensitive information and types of cases (including those involving children or gender-based violence), and judicial ethics. 

The first secondment is scheduled to take place in May 2024 (although this is subject to change).

To be chosen for a secondment a judge must exhibit English Language proficiency no lower than Cambridge - B2 or IELTS 6. Please note that before being accepted for this opportunity, short-listed candidates will have their English, reading, speaking and listening ability may be tested. 

Selection Procedure

The participants for this  opportunity will be decided by a selection committee made up of experts through an objective and fair process in which all judges with the same qualifications will receive equal treatment. The USAID Rule of Law Program will serve as the Secretariat for the selection committee but will not be a voting member.

The selection of a participant for a secondment will be based in part on the participant’s ability to benefit from the opportunity and to both use and share the knowledge gained upon their return to Georgia.  

To be considered for a position on this secondment, an applicant should do the following:

1. Complete the Secondment Application form;
2. Apart from filling out Secondment Application form, a candidate must send a current resume to info.rolp@ewmi.org no later than midnight, January 15, 2024. Please write "Judicial Exchange Program: Secondment" in the subject line of the e-mail. 

Please note that early submissions are encouraged. Failure to fully provide all information may cause the Selection Committee to disqualify your application.

If you have any questions about completing this form, please contact Ana Gorduladze at agorduladze@ewmi.org; phone: 557 398 929.

Please note: The information provided in this form will be treated as confidential and will only be used for the purpose of preparing and implementing the USAID Rule of Law Program’s judicial educational and exchange programs.

Please note: If you are interested in this exchange program, you must complete this application form even if you submitted an application for another opportunity.

Please complete and return this background information form to info.rolp@ewmi.org no later than 23:59 on January 15, 2024. Please, indicate the wording “Judicial Exchange Program: Secondment” in the subject line of the e-mail. All applicants must submit a copy of their CV along with this form. A photograph is requested but optional.