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    Judges of the Superior Court of Justice of East Lima Strengthen Their Capacities in Evidentiary Law

    Nov 19, 2024

    2 min read

    Access to Justice Criminal Justice & Transnational Organized Crime Judicial System Strengthening Latin America & Caribbean Peru
    Judges of the Superior Court of Justice of East Lima Strengthen Their Capacities in Evidentiary Law
    Participants holding up their workshop certificates.

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    From November 6-8, 2024, twenty-five judges from the Superior Court of Justice of East Lima participated in an intensive workshop on the analysis and assessment of evidence in criminal proceedings. Facilitated under the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative’s (ABA ROLI) Justice Sector Support Project II (JSSP-2), the workshop sought to strengthen the participating judges’ capacities to better address judicial sentences.

    Funded by the US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), JSSP-2 aims to build on the success of its predecessor, a five-year INL-funded Justice Sector Support Project which was implemented from 2016 to 2021. The new project began in February 2022 and targets several regions and all 34 judicial districts of Peru. The program’s objectives are to support Peruvian authorities’ efforts to consolidate and build on judicial reforms; improve Peru’s capacity to combat complex crimes; prevent and detect corruption in justice sector institutions; and support the strengthening of equitable and fair access to justice, especially for vulnerable populations and indigenous communities.

    The workshop, entitled “Analysis and Evaluation of Evidence in Trial,” aimed to provide better tools and knowledge-sharing in evidentiary reasoning, essential for judges to issue judgments based on objective evidence. Among the topics addressed were the analysis of circumstantial evidence, the Daubert standard for scientific evidence, and procedures on the admissibility and exclusion of evidence.

    “This activity is another step towards strengthening the administration of justice, where the main beneficiary is the citizenry. Through the project, we will continue to seek and generate opportunities to contribute to strengthening the justice sector, together with our partner, the United States Embassy,” said Raúl Callirgos, Country Director of ABA ROLI Peru.

    Participants of the workshop on evidentiary law.

    Participants of the workshop on evidentiary law.

    The workshop was attended by leading experts such as José Luis Crespo García, a judge from Hidalgo, Mexico; and Víctor Enriquez Sumerinde, a Peruvian senior judge, who shared their experience in judicial work.

    Víctor Enríquez congratulated the initiatives of the Judiciary to empower judges in their jurisdictional work. “Judges have had the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge acquired throughout this activity based on their experience; in this way colleagues will be able to carry out their work in a quick and efficient manner,” he said.

    As part of the learning-by-doing methodology, the judges participated in hands-on exercises, where they carried out critical analysis of cases and practiced their argumentation in judicial decision-making, thus enhancing their abilities to issue sentences based on proven facts.

    These sessions also explored the importance of making judicial sentences understandable to citizens, which in turn would strengthen judicial transparency and citizen’s trust.

    Commitment to Strengthening the Justice System in Peru

    Thanks to the support of the United States Embassy, initiatives such as this workshop reinforce the efforts of the Peruvian judiciary to confront crime more effectively. This joint effort reflects the commitment of both countries to build a more equitable and accessible justice system, promoting a judicial system that responds to the demands of society, and strengthening the fight against crime in the country and across the region.