On 7 and 8 April 2021, IRZ organised an online seminar in partnership with the Judicial Court of Jordan, the Judicial Institute of Jordan and the Supreme Administrative Court of Jordan. This was a popular event, with fifty or so representatives from administrative jurisdiction in Jordan and judges from various local courts and courts of appeal participating. The high level of interest in the event was due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the justice system.
The following issues were explained and lively discussed in detail:
Digitalisation processes in jurisdiction and virtual court cases in Jordan and Germany
The hurdles, challenges and benefits for jurisdiction of virtual court cases
Practical experiences and knowledge of video technology in court cases in Jordan and Germany
Technical, financial and organisational issues with digitalisation processes in jurisdiction
The discussions revealed that both countries could learn a great deal from one another and were facing similar challenges. Digitalisation in the justice system is an ongoing process, which is still a long way from completion. This process benefits from the exchange of experiences between different jurisdictions and legal systems.
The IRZ experts taking part in the conference were Dr. Volker Herbolsheimer, a judge at the Administrative Court of Gelsenkirchen, and Dr. Oliver Kahlert, a judge at the Higher Social Court (Landessozialgericht) and in charge of the IT department at the Ministry of Justice for North Rhine-Westphalia.
In view of the high level of interest in the seminar topics, IRZ plans to continue and intensify its cooperation in this area
The German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJV) financed the seminar as part of its institutional funding.
On 9 and 10 March 2021, IRZ organised an online seminar in partnership with the Judicial Council and the Judicial Institute of Jordan. The event was financed by the German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJV) and was aimed at high-ranking Jordanian judges in the field of administrative jurisdiction.
During the seminar, the participants had the opportunity to acquire expertise in court proceedings for the repeal of administrative decisions and the processing of administrative claims, or to expand the knowledge they already have in this area, with the aim of using their newly acquired skills in their legal practice.
IRZ Head of Section Sidi Mohamed Khairy welcomed the participants on behalf of IRZ. He emphasised the significance of the cooperation between Germany and Jordan in the area of administrative jurisdiction. Majid Ghobari, a judge at the Supreme Administrative Court of Jordan, was very positive about the renewed partnership with IRZ in his opening speech. The Judicial Council and the Judicial Institute of Jordan worked hand in hand on the planned new reforms of administrative jurisdiction. Events organised with IRZ provided the Jordanian partners with valuable information and ideas from legal practice in Germany.
Two recognised experts were appointed by IRZ to take part in the two-day event. They were Volker Ellenberger, President of the Higher Administrative Court of Baden-Württemberg, and Stefan Schulte, a judge at the Administrative Court of Arnsberg.
They gave lectures on the following topics, for which they also presented case examples:
The meaning and purpose of the administrative act
Elements of the administrative act
Retraction and withdrawal of the administrative act
Enforcement of the administrative act
The structure and formulation of a court ruling in an administrative claim
The process of administrative court proceedings
The Jordanian participants made the most of the lectures to have lively discussions and an intense exchange of experiences with the German experts. In view of the ongoing requirements of their Jordanian partners, IRZ plans to offer further events on the subject of administrative jurisdiction throughout the year.
Alongside the Jordanian Ministry of Justice, IRZ organised an online exchange of experiences on “International legal Assistance in criminal Cases”, which took place on 7 December 2020.
When it comes to international legal assistance, a close and trusting exchange between the individual states and the relevant national authorities is essential. To this end, IRZ organised this exchange of experiences in cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Justice, with representatives from the Judicial Council and the Jordanian international police department also taking part.
The event was led by Sidi Khairy, IRZ Head of Section. Dr. Hasan Abdallat, a judge and Deputy Director General of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Amman, was the Jordanian expert at this event. He reported in detail on the legal framework for international legal assistance, extradition processes and national efforts to improve the flow of information at national and international level by making advances in digitalisation, thereby making the international prosecution of offences more efficient.
The IRZ speakers at the event were:
Dr. Ralf Riegel, Head of the International criminal law and cooperation in extradition and enforcement division at the German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJV)
Solveig Volquardsen, public prosecutor and desk officer at the BMJV
Urs Wäckerlin, a local court judge and desk officer at the BMJV
Tobias Lübbert, Senior Public Prosecutor at the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office
As well as the legal basis for international legal assistance, the procedure for extradition processes was also presented. The complex issues of minor legal assistance and asset recovery were another focus of the exchange of experiences.
During the discussions at this event, it soon became clear that the Jordanian authorities are extremely interested in this subject and still have a requirement to maintain international links in this area and to learn from examples of best practices. IRZ therefore aims to continue the in-depth cooperation in this area next year as well.
The event was financed by the German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJV).
