This collection of resources is a brief introduction to the many ways court systems can be structured. It offers insights into different legal traditions, judicial practices, and approaches to court administration.
Judges and other professionals who work internationally will be better able to…
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a process for resolving civil disputes without litigation. It offers a collaborative process and enables outcomes more tailored to the parties’ interests. ADR methods can also be more affordable than litigating in court.
Types of…
Nations have adopted different titles for their highest courts of appeal ; these courts also have varying numbers of judges and diverse methods for selecting them. Although all apex courts serve as final courts of appeal, they also may be assigned additional responsibilities. In some countries,…
Proper funding is essential for enabling the timely disposition of cases, maintaining court services, and recruiting qualified judges and personnel. Judicial involvement with the budget process reinforces institutional independence and better insulates funding from politics, including retaliation…
Rules of civil procedure inform the way litigation develops and proceeds through the courts. They also influence the role of judges, lawyers, and court personnel, the production and probative value of evidence, and the duration of court proceedings. The differences between legal systems can be…
Rules of procedure and court practices shape the contours of civil litigation. The path of a civil case follows a similar trajectory across most civil-law countries; this is also true throughout common-law countries. However, there are considerable variances within each legal tradition. Differences…
Most of Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East, Asia, and some African countries follow the civil law tradition. The common law system is found in the United Kingdom and its former colonies throughout the world.
Judicial Role & TrainingCivil LawCommon LawLaw…
Legal Traditions
Nations diverge in the particulars of their formal criminal justice systems. Legal traditions shape procedure (i.e., investigation, trial, evidence, plea bargaining, appeals) along with the role of the judge, prosecutor, and defense counsel.…
Constitutional courts, also known as constitutional tribunals or constitutional councils, have exclusive jurisdiction over constitutional matters. This includes constitutional review of legislation, regulations, and government acts.
The rulings of constitutional courts…