Six trial judges from the country of Georgia visited Cobb Superior Court the week of August 15, 2022, to observe jury trials and study the judicial process. The visit marks the post-pandemic resumption of a cooperative effort that has been ongoing since 2017 between the Georgian judiciary; the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training; and the State of Georgia’s Administrative Office of the Courts. The groups developed the program to promote the transparency and independence of the Georgian judiciary, assist their judiciary in court and jury trial management, and strengthen the rule of law in the country of Georgia.
The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, assists the Georgian judiciary by conducting a series of activities to help support this effort.
In Cobb, Senior Judge Jim Bodiford put together a team that includes Superior Court Judge Ann Harris and Senior State Court Judge Ben Studdard.
“We are delighted to continue this important work with our Georgian colleagues,” Judge Harris said. “Strengthening the jury-trial process brings greater transparency to a judicial system and fosters the independence of the judiciary. Both are hallmarks of a free and just society.”
During this latest visit, the Georgian judges observed several days of a murder trial in Cobb Superior Court and also had an opportunity to consult with local judges about judicial ethics and independence.
“We can try to explain to folks how we judges manage our court business, and in particular our jury trials, but a real-life demonstration, like a picture, is worth a thousand words,” Judge Harris said. “It’s a bit like the difference between going to law school and actually practicing law.”
The Georgian judges also met with local prosecutors and defense attorneys to discuss professionalism and with Jury Administrator Wendy Portwood regarding the process of juror summonses, excusals, and deferrals. They enjoyed the hospitality of the Cobb County Bar Association at its monthly luncheon, which appropriately featured a menu of barbecue, cornbread, and sweet tea.
In prior years, the team of judges from the state of Georgia spent time in the country of Georgia, observing court proceedings, consulting with their counterparts, and providing training on various judicial and courtroom management subjects. The team hopes to return to the county of Georgia in the coming months.
Since gaining independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, Georgia has made great strides in developing a criminal justice system modeled after the U.S. system.
“While the U.S. criminal justice system is not perfect, we do have some 250 years of steadily working to improve the practice and procedure of jury trials in this country,” Judge Harris said. “Our hope is some of our experience – both good and bad – will be useful to the Georgian judiciary as they work to strengthen their own jury trial process. We have all been impressed with the great progress the Georgians have made in such a short time in implementing jury trials in their country, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them.”
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