Judicial Ethics in Spain Customized Training Program

SpainExchange designed and implemented the training program entitled Judicial Code of Ethics. The program, sponsored by World Learning Inc. and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), was developed for a delegation of 12 Bulgarian judges and magistrates, representatives from the Union of Judges and the Supreme Judicial Council. The training event took place in the City of Madrid from February 21st to the 28th of 2004.

The training program was designed by the managing director of SpainExchange and implemented with the assistance of 2 program facilitators, young professionals in the fields of political philosophy and law, who accompanied the participants to all sessions and maintained program focus and continuity.

All the requirements of the Request for Training Proposal were met. The overall objective of the program was accomplished in Spain through site visits, lectures, case studies, meetings with Spanish magistrates, and other presentations. Additionally, a selection of documentation pertaining to the judicial disciplinary system, disciplinary cases, and the Spanish laws applicable to the theme and the objectives of the training program were previously forwarded for translation and review.

The site visits included the General Council of the Judiciary, the Center for Judicial Studies, and two Associations of Judges and Magistrates. At theses sites, the program participants learned about the governing body of the courts and those who serve in the administration of justice, the disciplinary system and processes, about the judicial profession in Spain and the continuous training provided for judges. At the judges associations, the participants were able to meet and initiate professional relationships with Spanish magistrates.

Four lectures by professionals in the field were imparted at Centro de Estudios Financieros (CEF). The lectures presented included the disciplinary system, the disciplinary process, the liability of judges and magistrates, and case studies. A participative methodology was used. The participants interacted with the speakers by asking questions and engaging in dialog not only during the lectures but also during the institutional visits.

Several cases were presented. The cases provided additional insight into the disciplinary processes and procedures. Two presentations were scheduled and conducted at the hotel meeting room. The first was a presentation and meeting with a magistrate who had been disbarred, and the second an organization representing persons who had been harmed by judicial resolutions.

Through the activities outlined for the program and the contacts made in Spain, the Bulgarian delegation returned to their respective entities with clear and practical information regarding ethical conduct in the Spanish judiciary, information that will assist in implementing the Bulgarian Code of Ethics as well as its enforcement component.

If you have a program or project that you wish to develop in Spain, please feel free to contact us to request additional information or an estimate.

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