March 9, 1998
Geonomics Institute of Middlebury College Aids
Ukrainian Legal Reform Efforts With Community Connections Program
Is the development of democracy in the countries
of the former Soviet Union possible without the enforcement of
a rule of law?
Nine Ukrainian legal professionals donít think
so. Throughout the month of March, they are thoroughly examining
Vermont’s legal and judicial systems. Armed with this knowledge,
they will contribute to the design of a legal reform program in
their home city of Dnepropetrovsk in southeastern Ukraine. Through
the Community Connections program, which offers three-week internships
designed and implemented by Geonomics Institute of Middlebury
College, The Snelling Center for Government, and the Vermont-Karelia
Rule of Law Project, the visitors will learn from their Vermont
counterparts.
Internships and professional meetings will expose
the Ukrainian visitors to the practice of commercial and criminal
law, legal research, and case management. Vermont professionals
will provide guidance in developing a code of ethics for the Ukrainian
judicial system and its attorneys. The interns’ daily participation
in the democratic free-market economy of the United States reflects
the program’s goal to support the development of democracy in
Ukraine and other countries of the former Soviet Union.
Prior to the internships, Community Connections participants
will undergo intensive training at Middlebury’s Geonomics Institute.
The program also will offer the Ukrainians the chance to establish
personal connections through homestays with Vermont families,
and opportunities to engage in local cultural and community activities.
Vermont organizations providing internships during
the legal program include Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Montpelier,
Chittenden Bank of Burlington, Green Mountain Power of South Burlington,
March & Associates law firm of Middlebury, Vermont Law School
of South Royalton, Vermont Police Academy of Pittsford, and the
Office of the Secretary of State of Vermont and Vermont Bar Association,
both of Montpelier. The Ukrainians will spend a day at the United
States Federal Court in Burlington and will attend the 41st annual
midwinter meeting of the Vermont Bar Association.
Community Connections is a nationwide program sponsored
by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United
States Information Agency. Vermont’s program receives additional
funding from the Middlebury College Geonomics Institute, The Snelling
Center for Government, the Vermont-Karelia Rule of Law Project,
Vermont businesses, private and government organizations, and
individuals.
For more information on the Community Connections
program, please contact Chris Beattie, program coordinator, at
the Geonomics Institute of Middlebury College at 802-443-2300.