2010

Four Wisconsin judges selected for conference at The Hague

Madison, Wisconsin - November 3, 2010

 Four Wisconsin judges met with the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands during a recent judicial conference at The Hague. Pictured (left to right): Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey A. Conen; guests Leanne Walker and Jean Needham; St. Croix County Circuit Court Judge Scott R. Needham, Ambassador Fay Hartog Levin; Court of Appeals Judge Joan F. Kessler; and Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge David L. Borowski. (Photo credit: Taylor Stout)
Four Wisconsin judges met with the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands during a recent judicial conference at The Hague. Pictured (left to right): Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey A. Conen; guests Leanne Walker and Jean Needham; St. Croix County Circuit Court Judge Scott R. Needham, Ambassador Fay Hartog Levin; Court of Appeals Judge Joan F. Kessler; and Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge David L. Borowski. (Photo credit: Taylor Stout)
Judges from Milwaukee and St. Croix counties were selected to travel to The Hague this fall to participate in an international judicial conference. The group included Deputy Chief Judge Scott R. Needham, St. Croix County Circuit Court, and Judges David L. Borowski and Jeffrey A. Conen, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, along with Court of Appeals Judge Joan F. Kessler of Milwaukee.

The judges took part in the Sir Richard May International Courts Conference, named for a judge who presided in several high-profile war crimes trials at the International Criminal Tribunal at The Hague. The event was held Sept. 26-Oct. 1.

The program gave the Wisconsin judges an international perspective on civil and criminal procedure and sentencing. The group also learned about the unique challenges facing the world court, where war crimes tribunals are held. These challenges include witness protection and relocation, the need to have the proceeding translated into at least three different languages (English, French and the native tongue of the witness), and the blending of legal systems from around the world.

The judges observed proceedings at the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal, the Sierra Leone War Crimes Court, and the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, and met with prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges from a number of different courts. The seminar included tours of the International Peace Palace, Europol, the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons and the International Court of Arbitration. The group attended a reception hosted by U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands Fay Hartog Levin at the Ambassador’s home.

Contact:
Amanda K. Todd
Court Information Officer
(608) 264-6256

Back to headlines archive 2010