Republic of Georgia Constitutional Law Project Continues

Photograph: Brock Baxter Photograph: Dean Kirk Photograph: Audrey Koehler Photograph: Isaac LeBlanc Photograph: Alex Sheppard

Originally launched in 2012, a Constitutional Law project with students from Free University of Tbilisi (FUT) in the Republic of Georgia and Washburn Law will continue during the spring 2017 semester. Five Washburn Law students have been selected to assist FUT students with developing amicus curiae briefs for two cases that are currently pending before the Constitutional Court of Georgia.

One case involves the constitutional right to free enterprise; and the other involves constitutional limits on imprisonment of individuals who are unable to pay a fine. Both of these cases have the potential of establishing important landmarks in Georgian law. In 2012, the Georgian court cited work of Free University and Washburn Law students in a landmark decision shaping property rights.

Professors Bill Rich and Jeff Jackson will work with two teams of Washburn Law students to prepare memoranda summarizing treatment of the two issues in the United States. Upon completion, Washburn Law will share the memos with students in the Constitutional Law Clinic at FUT. In turn, they will use the information received to prepare amicus curiae briefs for the Constitutional Court of Georgia. The project timeline consists of completing work on the memos by March 1, 2017, followed by a video conference with students from both universities in early March to discuss the cases.  

Washburn Law students selected to participate in the project include: Brock Baxter, Dean Kirk, Audrey Koehler, Isaac LeBlanc, and Alex Sheppard. The group consists of all first-year law students. Participation in the Constitutional Law project may be counted towards Washburn Law students’ pro bono recognition; Advocacy Certificate service requirements; and Law and Government professional development requirements.