Venezuela – a place where something new is taking place
JUDICIARY BRANCH
While visiting Venezuela from January 22 to 29 during the II FORUM OF THE AMERICAS, something new in the Judiciary Branch of that country was shown.
Through a public competitive exam, 360 judges were sworn in, many of whom were already working as such, appointed during the previous regime. The country's highest court, the Superior Court of Justice, went from 20 to 32 judges.
Distortions in the previous system are being corrected. The coordinator of the Judicial School said that in the past there were veritable, "judicial tribes ". The slowness of legal services was been overcome in social cases (labor, agrarian and children and youth cases) through mediation with participation of the State (judge) and oral proceedings.
In oral proceedings, only the brief and the defense are written. The hearing is recorded (audio and video) for all other procedural acts.
The judgment is immediate at all levels.
In the initial phase, mediation, a round table is used for the parties, lawyers and judge. Likewise, judge's meetings, even at the Supreme Court are held at round tables.
Through the Judicial School, the Supreme Court promotes exchanges among judges from different parts of the country to exchange information and experiences as well as to provide professional development through conventional courses in Venezuela and abroad.
A new labor procedural law is in effect in the country (2002) and reform of civil procedural law is under discussion, all as a consequence of the recent Constitution of 1999.
LEGAL WORKSHOPS
During the Forum, as is customary, several organizations representing agents of the law will hold Legal Workshops. Workshops will include those promoted by the World Forum of Judges, ANAMATRA- the National Labor Magistrates Association, the Ibero-American Judges Network, the American Jurists Association and the Brazilian Labor Attorneys Association will be discussing the Judiciary Branch and Democracy, Slave Labor and the Judiciary in Latin-American reality.
The activities of Brazilian judges association has drawn the general attention of law agents from around the world. The World Judges Forum newsletter, promoted by 10 Brazilian judges associations, has been well received by all.
The WORLD SOCIAL FORUM - FORUM OF THE AMERICAS
Over 60,000 participants registered for the main events, with over 100,000 present in Caracas, coming from all parts of the Americas and the world. Special merit is warranted by the large number of participants from the United States, Brazil and Cuba.
Participants shuttled to and from the different venues where Forum activities were held free of charge, particularly using the Caracas metro, where people normally pay an amount equivalent to R$ 0.30 (thirty cents of one real).
