The Judicial Reform Project (JRP)

National Center for State Courts (NCSC)
www.ncsc.com

During the month of September, activities of the Judicial Reform Program (JRP) intensified, as counterparts returned from summer vacations and project staff worked to complete all planned activities prior to the scheduled closeout at the end of the year.

Courts

JRP continues to oversee the software upgrades for the “Judge2005” automated case tracking system.  These upgrades are designed to harmonize the existing system with newly adopted regulations on statistics and reporting.   They will also permit the courts to move from a case tracking application to a more functional management information system.

The Chief Justice and the Director of the General Council of Courts both consider the software upgrades to be among their highest priorities.  Having adopted case management and trial court performance standards with assistance from the Judicial Reform Program, they are particularly interested in having software tools which will permit them to manage the courts based on their new standards.

During the month of September, JRP staff and the COP continued to oversee the work of the IT contractor and meet with the working group of users and Supreme Court IT staff that has been tasked with reviewing the progress of the software development.  Demonstrations of the software were scheduled twice, but had to be postponed for technical reasons.  Monitoring this process continues to be a high priority, and will be intensified as work progresses.

The JRP-supported manual on Caseflow Management has gone through a final review process, after incorporating a number of changes to content.  The manual has been sent to the printer.  Two thousand manuals have been ordered, sufficient to provide a copy to every employee.

In accordance with JRP’s 2008 Workplan, assistance is being provided to the General Council of Courts (GCC) on developing their new Judicial Strategic Plan 2008-2015.  The Executive Director of the General Council of Courts has requested staff assistance in organizing and facilitating a small retreat at the end of September.  Two JRP staff members will be fulfilling this request, and are working closely with the GCC.

General Prosecutor’s Office (GPO)

JRP continues to support the General Prosecutor’s Office in developing its technical infrastructure. Work is progressing with the upgrades to Prosecutor2003, the case management software previously developed and updated by JRP.  The current upgrade involves both updates to the case management software, and moving it to a web-based platform which will better serve the needs of the Office throughout Mongolia.

After an August meeting with the Deputy Prosecutor General, the Head of the Policy Planning and Foreign Relations Office, and two IT staff members of GPO, an MOU was finalized along with the specific requirements of the software upgrade.  A working group within the GPO of IT staff, users, and key prosecutors has been established, and JRP staff will work to ensure regular updates on progress, and to solicit feedback and suggestions based on demonstrations of prototype software.

Legal Education

JRP has for a number of years supported the development of Otgontenger University as a model law school.  JRP helped the law school establish Mongolia's first Legal Clinic – a program where law students, under guidance from faculty, gain practical experience by handling a variety of legal issues brought to the clinic by ordinary citizens.  This concept has caught the attention of other law schools, many of which would like to implement similar programs in their own universities.

Responding to this interest, JRP in cooperation with Otgontenger University organized a three-day training conference from September 11-13 on Establishing a Legal Clinic.  In attendance were 17 law professors from 12 universities.  Each participant received a set of the following publications:  Compilation of the Internal Rules and Procedures of the Legal Clinic, Structure and Management of the Legal Clinic, as well as two training programs for professors and students of the Legal Clinic.

At the end of the training there was a discussion on the outcomes of the conference.  Almost every participant praised the value of the training and expressed interest in setting up similar legal services clinics in their own law schools. Additionally, three participants specifically requested follow-up training for their own faculties.

As noted previously, prospects for sustained expansion of the legal clinic concept appear bright.  Both the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Education have called for the inclusion of clinical legal education in the curricula of law schools.  The National Center for Standardization and Metrology passed a resolution in October of 2007 calling for legal clinics in all law schools, citing the benefits of practical legal experience.

Training

Distance Learning: JRP completed its review of “e-learning” options for Mongolia, and selected “Moodle”, a free, open source software package designed to help educators create online learning communities.  http://moodle.org   As noted in previous reports, web-based training appears to be ideal for a country as large as Mongolia, and could potentially facilitate the adoption of mandatory Continuing Legal Education (CLE) for legal professionals, as well as the ongoing training requirements for judges, prosecutors, advocates, managers and others. 

JRP staff is working with National Legal Center training professionals to adapt an existing training program to this web-based platform as a demonstration of the capabilities of the software package.

Video Conferencing:  Considerable progress was made toward the goal of establishing video conferencing capabilities between the General Council of Courts (GCC) in Ulaanbaatar and seven pilot regional aimags.  Technical questions were addressed and resolved regarding equipment and connectivity infrastructure and monthly costs.  Two demonstrations were held with representatives of Mobicom, JRP and the GCC. 

The GCC has provided JRP with written assurances that the ongoing connectivity and maintenance costs will be included in the 2009 budget, thus assuring sustainability.  Furthermore there will be an unanticipated bonus once the equipment is installed.  The fiber optic connections used to set up the virtual private network (VPN) for the video conferencing equipment can also be used for improved email and IT connection speeds.  In effect, it will create a Wide Area Network for improved communication among the seven courts selected as pilots for this technology.  Eventually, the courts plan to expand the video conferencing capability to all aimags.

Public Education

Television and Radio Productions: One of the most basic prerequisites for the Rule of Law is the understanding and support of the citizens for their institutions of justice.  JRP has carried out numerous activities over the years to increase public understanding of justice sector institutions.  Among these activities have been radio and television dramas designed to familiarize listeners with the workings of the justice system.

On September 11, the Mongolian National Radio launched a new radio drama series on criminal law and criminal procedure.  These JRP-supported radio programs, produced in 15 minute episodes, are broadcast several times a week during both daytime and evening hours.

Posters and Brochures: The Judicial Reform Program has completed all of the educational posters envisioned it its annual workplan.  Distribution of these educational materials continues, and this month 400 posters on the Copyright Law were provided to the Agency of Intellectual Property for further dissemination.