News & Events

Todd Crider, Head of the Firm’s Latin America Practice, moderated a panel at the 25^th anniversary of the Pro Bono Foundation Chile in Santiago on November 18. The panel, titled “The Ethical Commitment of the Legal Profession to Judicial Independence,” explored the importance of judicial independence to democracy and the rule of law. The panelists discussed threats directed to the judiciary from executive branches frustrated by constrained by the judiciary. The panelists also discussed the importance of objective and apolitical procedures for the selection of judges and for the regulation of abuse and corruption in the judiciary. The recent constitutional reforms in Mexico shifting from a system of Presidential and Senatorial appointment to the direct election of federal and state judges was of particular focus and concern. Panelists, who included the president of the association of judges and magistrates of Latin America and the general secretary of the Chilean association of judges, also discussed ways that lawyers could support judicial independence through pro bono and public interest activities. Through the Cyrus Vance Center for International Justice, the Firm has had close involvement with the Chilean Pro Bono Foundation since its founding.

For more information on the event, please click here.