Schedule Overview

• Format Four main topics, each a panel discussion format, with all speakers on the topic at the front table. After each speaker, the other speakers on the panel may ask questions, and then after each panel, questions may be asked from the audience.
• Moderators     2 for each session (1 from LTD, 1 from LABAS)
• Awards    One to a Lithuanian attorney who has championed legal reform; another award to a journalist who has exposed government corruption or championed legal reform.
• Joint Dinner Wednesday, July 26, 2006, open to all (families and spouses of attendees), and each will pay their own at Registration                             

Monday, July 24	6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.	LABAS/Elon Registration and Welcome
Tuesday, July 25	10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.	Opening Remarks Session 1: Present challenges and the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania
	1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.	Lunch
	2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.	Session 1:  Continued from morning Session 2: The system of pretrial investigation: problems and solutions
Wednesday, July 26	10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.	Session 3:  Independence and transparency of the judiciary system
	1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Lunch
	2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.	Session 4:  Trends in the privacy rights of individuals
	3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Discussions
	3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.	Resolutions
	4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.	Awards
	5:00 p.m.	Closing Remarks
	6:00 p.m.	Open dinner (registration during the Conference for an additional fee; location to be announced)
Thursday, July 27	9:00 a.m. - 12:00	LABAS/Elon site visits to government offices, courts, or NGOs related to program topics*
	1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. or later	LABAS/Elon field trip by bus, return to Vilnius after dinner*
Friday, July 28	9:00 a.m. - 12:00	LABAS/Elon site visits to government offices, courts, or NGOs related to program topics*
	1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. or later	LABAS/Elon field trip by bus, return to Vilnius after dinner*

 * The programing for Thursday and Friday, July 27 and 28 is open to LABAS/Elon registered delegates and their travel companions (and others as space provides).  The mornings will include site visits to government offices, courts, or NGOs related to program topics. The afternoons will offer bus trips in the region (Kaunas, Trakai) for an additional fee. Participants on these days will pay their own meals. The details will be available to conference registrants by email notification as soon as they become available.

 PROGRAM DETAIL FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY

July 25, 2006 (Tuesday)

10.00 – 10.30 Opening Remarks

Patricia Streeter, President of the Lithuanian-American Bar Association, Inc (LABAS), USA
Professor Betty Morgan, Director of the Center for Public Affairs, Elon University, USA
Dr. Stasys Šedbaras, Chairman of the Lithuanian Lawyers' Association (LTD), Lithuania

First Session
 Current Challenges and the Constitution of Lithuania

    The role of the Constitution of Lithuania in the context of current political and social culture (jurisprudence and the relationship between government and self-government). Should the Constitution be changed? Does the governmental system conform to the fundamental intent of the Constitution? What role does the Constitution have in the "new" Europe? How should conflicts be decided between the Constitution and the European Union? 

Moderators
Prof. Betty Morgan, Elon University Center for Public Affairs, USA
Prof. habil.dr. Vytautas Nekrošius, Dean of the Law Faculty, Vilnius University, LTD Vice-Chairman, Lithuania

10.30 – 13.00 Speakers:
Prof. E. Jarašiūnas (Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania)
Prof. habil.dr. Vytautas Landsbergis (Member of the European Union Parliament, Lithuania)
Regina Narušienė (Chairman of the National Board of Directors of the Lithuanian American Community, Inc., Co-Founder and Board Member of LABAS, Attorney, USA)
Dr. Adam Lazowski (Senior Lecturer, University of Westminster School of Law, UK)  

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 15.00 Continuation of the first session, discussions

Second Session
The System of Pretrial Investigation: Problems and Solutions

    Role of the prosecutor. Prosecutor's part in criminal investigations. Pretrial investigation procedure and control over the system. Role of Judge in pretrial investigations. Pretrial investigation term limits. Relationship of pretrial investigation institutions to the prosecutor. 

    Background note: This session will explore the role of prosecutor and procedural problems in criminal investigations and formal accusations, control of the system of criminal investigation, and the role of the judge in pretrial investigations.  Although the Prosecutor's authority is provided by the Constitution, it has no systematic oversight.  Investigation of criminal complaints is not normally done by the prosecutor's office, but by the Research Department, which investigates crimes and then only reports to prosecutors in order to make formal charge.  Further, individuals can be under investigation for lengthy periods of time without a complaint being filed, yet during that time, the prosecutor openly comments to members of the press, who publish matters under investigation.

Moderators
Prof. William Schroeder, Southern Illinois School of Law, USA
Doc.dr. Stasys Šedbaras, Attorney, Chairman of LTD, Lithuania

15.00 – 16.30 Speakers
Algimantas Valantinas (General Prosecutor of Lithuania, Lithuania)
Prof.habil.dr. Vytautas Nekrošius (Dean of Law Faculty, Vilnius University, Lithuania)
John Sylvester (Attorney, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Legal Attaché for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to the Embassy, Tallinn, USA)
Honorable Susan Hutchinson (Judge of the 2nd. Appellate District, State of Illinois, USA)

16.30 – 17.00 Discussions

July 26, 2006 (Wednesday)

Third Session
 Independence and Transparency of the Judicial System

    Court administration. The influence of the public in the implementation of justice. Reform of the system of selection of judges. Ethical standards of judges. Qualifications of judges. Public oversight over judges' actions. Public influence on the selection of judges.

    Background note: This session will explore proposals for substantial reform of the system for selection of judges and court administration, and the influence of the public on the implementation of justice.  There are systematic problems with the qualifications, selection and ethical performance of judges.  There is no systematic way for members of the public or the bar to have input into the qualifications and selection of judges, and no means of redress by the public for ethical violations.  One example is the rude and verbally abusive conduct of judges toward litigants.

Moderators
James W. Hulme, Attorney, USA
Doc. Dr. Liudvika Meškauskaitė, Attorney, Member of the LTD Board, Lithuania

10.00 – 12.30 Speakers
Prof.habil.dr. Valentinas Mikelėnas (Vilnius University, Professor, Lithuania)
Rytis Juozapavičius (Transparency International, Lithuanian Chapter, Lithuania)
Honorable Susan Hutchinson (Judge, 2nd. Appellate District Court, State of Illinois, USA)
Henrikas Mickevičius (Executive Director, Human Rights Monitoring Institute, Lithuania)

12.30 – 13.00  Discussions

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

Fourth Session
Trends in the Privacy Rights of Individuals

    Presumption of innocence. Right of media to obtain and publish information. Limitations on information considered private. Pretrial investigations and constitutionally guaranteed rights problems. Presumption of innocence in the media.

    Background note: Although the rights of the individual are protected by Constitution, individuals can be under criminal investigation for long periods of time without a complaint being filed, and during that time, the prosecutors publicly comment on the investigations and to the press.  Sometimes criminal complaints are never filed after these public comments are made.

Moderators
Patricia Streeter, Attorney, President of LABAS, USA
Jonas Sakalauskas, Chairman of the Young Lawyers' Department of LTD, Lithuania

14.00 – 15.00 Speakers:
Laura Juozumaitė (Attorney, Stasys Šedbaras Law Firm, Lithuania)
Bruce Hulme (Privacy Expert, USA)

15.00 – 15.30 Discussions

15.30 – 16.30 Resolutions

16.30 - 17.00  Awards

17.00       Closing remarks

18.00       Open dinner (registration during the Conference for an additional fee; location to be announced)

This page last revised July 7, 2006