Russian Judges Visit UW College of Law

Russian Judges Visit UW College of Law

Five judges from Stavropol, Russia, recently spent a week in Wyoming and Colorado as part of the Open World program (the Open World program is sponsored by the Library of Congress. It brings hundreds of professionals of all types from former Soviet Union countries to the U.S. each year). The judges’ tour of was hosted by the Honorable William F. Downes, Chief Judge of the United States District Court - District of Wyoming. It consisted of both educational and cultural activities in Jackson, Yellowstone, Casper, Cheyenne, Laramie, and Denver, including a day at the UW College of Law.

After touring the college, the judges attended Professor Eric Johnson’s first-year Criminal Law course (the judges were accompanied by simultaneous translators, so they could listen to the entire class, including questions and answers). After class, the UW College of Law hosted a lunch in the Rare Books Room. The judges were joined by members of the faculty and staff, as well as several students.

After lunch, the judges heard short presentations about criminal law from Professor Johnson, Professor Courselle, and Dean Parkinson. Before returning to Cheyenne, the judges met Joe Glenn and watched the UW Cowboys football team practice. They also watched the Cowgirls basketball team practice and toured the University of Wyoming campus.

The judges enjoyed their stay at the UW College of Law. They were impressed with the building, the class they observed, the presentations that they heard, and the university campus as a whole.


Professor John Burman gives a lunch time talk in the Rare Books Room to the Russian judges. Faculty, staff and law students also attended.		Russian judges with Judge Downes, Dean Jerry Parkinson and Professor John Burman. The judges' bilingual facilitator Anastasiya Amosova is also pictured.

Professor Eric Johnson, Professor Diane Courselle, and Dean Jerry Parkinson talk about the American criminal justice system with the Russian judges in the Rare Books Room at the UW College of Law.		Dean Jerry Parkinson and Professor Eric Johnson receive special gifts from the Russian judges.