Judicature has launched an international edition online for judges around the world. Judicature International, at judicature.duke.edu/intl, will publish commentary, scholarship, empirical research, opinion, and other content exploring issues of common concern to judges around the world, including court administration, the rule of law, transnational law, and judicial independence.
David F. Levi, Judicature’s publisher and the director of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School, has appointed a multinational editorial board to advise on the development of Judicature International. Chaired by Justice David Collins of the New Zealand Court of Appeal (and a 2018 graduate of Duke’s Master of Judicial Studies program), the board includes judges, academics, and legal practitioners from around the world who will provide editorial guidance and feedback on submitted articles.
“One of the priorities for Judicature International will be to identify and publish articles that bolster the rule of law,” said Justice Collins. “In many countries, courts and judges serve as the last defense against corruption and repressive governmental actions. Their important work needs to be amplified, explained, and supported. And we need to remain vigilant about the rule of law. It is our hope that this journal can help create a community among judges who support each other in their judicial work and in advancing public understanding of the crucial role the judiciary plays in creating and strengthening strong and healthy societies.”
Judicature International’s first edition featured “A Personal Journey Through the Rule of Law in the South Pacific,” by WK Hastings, a judge of the District Court of New Zealand who currently is serving as Chief Justice of Kiribati and President of its Court of Appeal. The journal will also periodically highlight news items about judges and judiciaries around the world.
Judicature International will be a freely accessible online forum that explores topics relating to judging and the administration of justice worldwide and helps to foster a global judicial community. It also addresses growing interest among international readers who are already finding Judicature online.
In the past year, judicature.duke.edu has seen a 430 percent increase among users outside the United States — including India, Canada, Australia, China, Nigeria, Germany, the Philippines, and Kenya. At the same time, global interest in Duke Law’s Master of Judicial Studies program has dramatically increased, even though the program is only able to accept two international students for each class.
“We are seeing increased demand for opportunities for judges from around the world to be in conversation with one another, to share ideas and knowledge, and to address common challenges,” said Levi. “By providing a forum for these sorts of exchanges, Judicature International aims to strengthen the rule of law and advance a global judicial culture of shared commitment to the principles of judicial independence and the fair and efficient administration of justice. We hope the journal will also have a civic education component that can help build public understanding of the work and role of a judge and the value of an independent judiciary as well as increased awareness of threats to the rule of law around the world.”
Article submissions may be sent to judicature@law.duke.edu (see submission guidelines at judicature.duke.edu). To receive new editions by email, subscribe online or follow us on Twitter @DukeJudicature.
