by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Granted, it’s not perfect every day in every courtroom, but America’s jury trial system is considered to be better than anything else that’s out there.
That’s why a group representing the bench and the bar from the Republic of Georgia was in Jacksonville last week to observe the entire process in the Circuit Court, County Court and federal court.
The five-member delegation traveled with two translators and was in the country through the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program administered by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The group was interested in learning how American courts are conducted and will return to Georgia, a former Soviet republic on the Black Sea bordered by Russia to the north and Turkey to the south, where they will be part of the effort to institute the country’s first democratic judicial system.
Currently, prosecutors and attorneys for persons accused of crimes appear before a judge appointed by the state who issues a verdict.
“We are establishing a new criminal code,” said Otar Kakhidze, a member of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association, who added, “Protecting human rights is our main goal.”
After spending the morning and part of the afternoon Monday at the County Courthouse, the delegation had the chance to sit down for more than an hour with Public Defender Bill White at his office.
White explained the roles of the Fourth Judicial Circuit’s judges, juries, prosecutors and public defenders. When he told the group how much public defenders are paid, Davit Sakvarelidze, who is a county prosecutor, was amazed at the starting salary of $40,500 plus vacation and benefits.
He said in the Republic of Georgia, attorneys who are licensed by the state and work in free legal aid centers to represent those who can’t afford representation earn on average $600 a month.
Sakvarelidze pointed that in his country, there can be issues of trust among the citizens because the prosecutor and the defendant’s ombudsman are appointed and paid by the state and he asked if a similar situation exists in America.
White said he understood and added, “We have to prove every day in court that we work for our clients.”
After an hour of lively discussion, it was proven that one thing is the same whether you’re in America or the Republic of Georgia: when the judge speaks, everyone listens.
“I appreciate your sharing your knowledge with us. Now I will share my thoughts and opinions,” said Tbilisi Court of Appeals Judge Omar Jorbenadze through his interpreter.
He spoke of his country’s 3,000-year history and said since Georgia regained its independence from the Soviet Union 17 years ago, “We have been rebuilding everything at once. Our social system, our economic system and our legal system are all interconnected.”
He also said when they return to Georgia the group will help develop the country’s first jury-trial system that is scheduled to be in place by June and, “The focus of our visit is to develop a model we can use. We want to learn from you.”
Jorbenadze also invited White to visit him in a few years after the new court is hearing cases.
“What you’re doing is very exciting,” White told the group as they were leaving. “It’s one of the most difficult things you could have to do, but you have a tremendous opportunity.”
“This is all absolutely new for us,” said Kakhidze.