Cassel Elected to Inter-American Justice Body
July 25, 2012
Faculty Fellow Douglass Cassel has been elected by the Organization of American States (OAS) to serve on the Board of Directors of the Justice Studies Center of the Americas (JSCA), an independent agency in the Inter-American justice system.
The JSCA promotes research around judicial reform, regional cooperation and networking among justice actors, and the dissemination of information on justice in the Americas.
“At a time when the independence of the judiciary is under siege from overreaching or repressive governments in several countries in the hemisphere, there is a critical need for objective, authoritative and expert analyses and recommendations from the Justice Studies Center of the Americas,” Cassel said. “I am honored to serve on its Board.”
Cassel’s election took place in June at the annual General Assembly of the OAS, in Cochabamba, Bolivia. He previously served two terms on the Board (2000–2003 and 2004–2006), including one as its president. Election requires prior nomination by the candidate’s government, and Cassel has now been successfully nominated by three successive US administrations.
Cassel’s three-year term will begin in January 2013. He has identified two initial priorities: raising funds from the US government and other sources for the work of the Center, and encouraging the Center to offer training programs in Inter-American Human Rights treaties and jurisprudence to national court judges.
Contact: Doug Cassell, Doug.Cassel@nd.edu
