Talking Courts Across Continents and Communities

Talking Courts, a project hosted by the Department of Political Science of the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University, focused on raising awareness of the importance of the judiciary, which is often seen as distant from everyday life but fundamentally impacts democratic processes in society. Through a series of 16 seminars, lectures, and public discussions, the project allowed participants to gain insight behind the “closed doors” of courts and promoted a better understanding of their significance—not only for the expert community but also for the broader public.

The project was implemented with financial support from the U.S. Embassy in Slovakia and in cooperation with other partners from September 2022 to November 2024. It involved individuals closely connected to the judiciary, primarily judges and their assistants, representatives from the academic and non-governmental sectors, as well as Slovak and international organizations influencing the functioning of the judiciary. These participants shared their practical experiences, offering an opportunity to explore the work of the courts, such as ensuring equality before the law and incorporating diverse professional perspectives in judicial decision-making. The events also emphasized the need for judicial self-reflection and the importance of judges not believing in their own infallibility in the attempt to maintain the authority of the court.

As part of the Talking Courts project, public events took place at the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University, as well as at the partner Jindal Global Law School in India. The events also addressed high school students and talented youth through the Human Rights Olympics and during workshops at high schools. Hybrid and online formats of some events facilitated access for those unable to attend in person.

The diversity of perspectives was a key element of the discussions, which involved experts from three continents. In addition to Slovakia and the United States, perspectives from countries such as Albania, the Czech Republic, Croatia, India, Indonesia, Hungary, Germany, Romania, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine were shared. Some activities also focused on supranational courts, such as the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights. Panel discussions at the plenary event in April 2023 at the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University, with the participation of the President of the Supreme Court of Slovakia, Ján Šikuta, senior United States District Judge for the District of Arizona and Chair, U.S. Courts’ Committee on International Judicial Relations David G. Campbell, and Professor Cornell W. Clayton, C.O. Johnson Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Director of the Thomas S. Foley Institute of Public Policy and Public Service, Washington State University and a Fulbright specialist at the Department of Political Science, highlighted the need for clearer judicial language when explaining court decisions to the public. This underscored the crucial role of courts in protecting democracy and justice. The discussions also drew attention to the role of the judiciary in different political systems, such as in Central Europe and South Asia, where there are strong democratic aspirations but also growing threats related to the erosion of democracy. The Talking Courts project also created opportunities for student internships and engagement of young people with issues of judiciaries.

The project team expresses gratitude to the U.S. Embassy in Slovakia and other partners, such as the J. William Fulbright Commission in Slovakia, the Human Rights Olympics, Jindal Global Law School, and the CEELI Institute. The Department of Political Science continues with activities pertaining to the mission and significance of the judiciary in political communities, with a special emphasis on research initiatives aimed at identifying and addressing challenges in fulfilling the mission of the judiciary. As the project’s conclusions show, such initiatives require a global perspective and openness from relevant institutions and actors for experience exchange and sharing of perspectives.

Videos from the Towards Democratic Judiciaries project event held on 17 April 2023:

Samuel Michlík, Intern of Talking Courts