PRESS RELEASE:

07/23/08 The chief justice of Liberia, Johnnie N. Lewis spoke with a group of invited guests at Kelley Drye on July 16, 2008 on the topic of restoring the rule of law in Liberia following civil wars that extended for 14 years. Chief Justice Lewis was nominated to be the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia by Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in 2006. The chief justice, who received his LL.M. from Yale Law School, headed a Liberian judiciary delegation in the United States. In addition to his visiting courts in Chicago, Connecticut, and Yale University Law School, he observed civil and criminal proceedings in federal and state courts in New York, met with judges, practitioners, and students, and addressed the New York Bar Association. His itinerary also included a visit to the U.S. Supreme Court and the Federal Judicial Center in Washington, D.C. Kelley Drye partners Daniel Schimmel and Robert L. Haig hosted the chief justice's visit to Kelley Drye. Mr. Schimmel, an international litigator and arbitrator, helped organize a trial advocacy training program for Liberian prosecutors, public defenders, and magistrate judges, under the auspices of Lawyers Without Borders. The program was conducted in Liberia last July. In the chief justice's touring of the U.S. justice system, he shared his experiences with American jurists. "During our visit to Liberia last year, we were all impressed by Chief Justice Lewis's relentless efforts to restore the rule of law, improve the performance of attorneys and judges, and fight corruption in Liberia," said Mr. Schimmel. The Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, Forbes.com, Calibre Macro World, Digital 50, Yahoo.com, Yahoo!Canada and Reuters published the news of the chief justice's visit to Kelley Drye. (Photo left to right: Robert L. Haig; Daniel Schimmel; Chief Justice Johnnie N. Lewis; Hon. Boima J. Kontoe, Resident Circuit Judge, Ninth Judicial Circuit, Bong County; and Gen. Amos B. Kesseh Dickson, Sr., Marshal of the Supreme Court of Liberia)

Bios of Involved Attorneys: Daniel Schimmel, Partner | Robert L. Haig, Partner