ICEA, in cooperation with the Supreme Court of Ukraine, conducted the fourth international educational program from April 26 to May 7, 2026 in New York, California, and Nevada (United States of America)

The Ukrainian delegation was represented by 16 judges, including 6 judges of the Supreme Court of Ukraine. The high-level diplomatic mission of Ukrainian judges attracted increased interest from American colleagues. The program was carried out at a high level of professional, emotional, and educational engagement.

The program included presentations and meetings with: 

– The United States Federal Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (State of New York); 

– The California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District (City of Los Angeles); 

– The Edmund D. Edelman Superior Court — Family and Children’s Law Center (Los Angeles); 

– The Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center (Los Angeles); 

– The Las Vegas Court Office, the Justice and Legal Services Center; 

– The United Nations Headquarters (New York), as well as other legal institutions.       

The program was beneficial for acquainting Ukrainian judges with the U.S. judicial system, law-enforcement methods, and the specifics of case hearings. Exposure to American mediation and dispute-resolution practices provided new ideas and opportunities. During the program, issues related to the independence of the judiciary and the functioning of Ukrainian courts in conditions of armed conflict were also discussed. Participants exchanged experience regarding the consideration of disciplinary complaints against judges, as well as the effectiveness of implementing information systems in court proceedings during wartime. The program supported the development of professional ties and the integration of Ukrainian judges into the international legal community.

In addition to practical aspects of judicial proceedings, Ukrainian judges had the opportunity to meet leaders of American legal education: 

– Columbia Law School (New York), a member of the Ivy League; 

– University of Southern California Gould School of Law (Los Angeles).

ICEA appreciated support from the following American partners: 

– Debra E. Livingston — Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (New York); 

– Robert S. Harrison — Judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County (California); 

– Marguerite D. Downing — Presiding Judge of the Edmund D. Edelman Superior Court (Los Angeles); 

– Melisa De La Garza — Chief Judge of the Las Vegas District Court (State of Nevada); 

– Adam Kolker — Dean and Executive Director of the International and Comparative Law Program at Columbia Law School (New York); 

– Frederick Davis — former federal prosecutor and a member of the New York and Paris Bar Associations, Professor of  law, Columbia Law School (New York); 

– Franita Tolson — Dean of the Gould School of Law at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles); 

– Hannah Gerry — Professor, founder and director of the Human Rights Clinic, as well as the Center for International Justice and Human Rights at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles); 

– Iryna Zaverukha — Professor at the Gould School of Law at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles); she served as coordinator and moderator of the meeting with the Ukrainian delegation at the university.

ICEA would like to thank Judge Iryna Anatolyivna Goncharova for her cooperation as the key organizer of four international programs in the United States and the head of the Ukrainian judges’ delegation.

ICEA programs promote the exchange of knowledge and the integration of international evidence, which facilitates the further development of the legal system of Ukraine.