NEWS RELEASE
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Contact:
Lorri Montgomery, Communications Manager
The National Center for State Courts
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Williamsburg, VA 23185-4147
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lmontgomery@ncsc.dni.us
Law
Firm Partners with the National Center for State Courts
to
Develop Kosovo's Justice System
Williamsburg, VA (July 21, 2005) – The law firm of Piper Rudnick Gray Cary (DLA Piper) is working with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) to help strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo. DLA Piper, a U.S.-based global law firm, is working with the NCSC and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop Kosovo’s justice system.
This joint project includes drafting new laws, revising existing legislation, and providing training, primarily in criminal law and procedure. DLA Piper will contribute approximately 4,000 attorney hours to the Kosovo project in 2005. In addition to providing direct help with legislative drafting and developing policy papers, DLA Piper has been working with the NCSC to establish a coherent legislative process that will ultimately enable Kosovars to write laws that are realistic and that can be implemented.
“We are delighted to play a role with the USAID and the National Center for State Courts in this law reform effort during such a critical time for Kosovo,” said Sheldon Krantz, managing partner of DLA Piper’s international pro bono initiatives.
NCSC is in the midst of a five-year, $14 million initiative to help Kosovo build sustainable local justice sector institutions run by Kosovars from a U.N.-run emergency operation. It is currently the largest program of the NCSC’s International Programs Division.
Ken Yamashita, USAID/Kosovo Mission director, said private partnerships are invaluable to the success of the Kosovo project. “This specific partnership, a donation by a private law firm, brings needed expertise and resources to Kosovo.” Project leadership said the transition of judicial functions in Kosovo is a priority in coming months, and the assistance offered by DLA Piper, as part of the NCSC project, will be a valuable resource in moving this process forward.
"NCSC's Justice System Reform Activity in Kosovo is very broad project," said Dan Deja, the project's Chief of Party, "the added resources and expertise that DLA Piper bring to our efforts will significantly enhance our ability to achieve our goals. This is a great opportunity for the citizens of Kosovo."
The National Center, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va, is a non-profit court reform organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. The National Center, founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation’s state courts. The National Center also is taking the lead on several key issues facing the justice system. For example, it has established a major civil justice initiative, a multi-year project that is examining best practices in civil case management and how complex litigation procedures can be improved. Other national initiatives being driven by the National Center include judicial selection reform and increasing citizen participation in jury service.
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