Costa Rica's Judicial School Requests Curriculum Development

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 001086 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CJAN SNAR KIPR PGOV PREL CS SUBJECT: Costa Rica's Judicial School Requests Curriculum Development Assistance ¶1. The director of Costa Rica's Judicial School, Marvin Carvajal, contacted Post on November 19 to request USG assistance in developing new curriculum for its year-long training for new judges. The USG's top priority in Costa Rica is helping the government improve public security, which is negatively impacted by large backlogs in the judicial caseload and, at times, poor interpretation of the law. Better training for judges could help improve their performance, which would have a positive impact on public security in the country. We recommend that the USG respond affirmatively to this request. -------------- A NEW APPROACH TO TEACHING -------------- ¶2. Carvajal stated that he would like to make greater use of the case study method, but Costa Rica does not have any books of case studies or anyone with experience in writing them. He told us that he and his team of judges and Judicial School employees plan to begin writing the case study texts in January 2010 with the goal of using them within a year. He would like expert advice and guidance before and during the writing process. ¶3. We assess Costa Rica's Judicial School to be a competent professional organization with significant human resources at its disposal and considerable influence within the judiciary. Carvajal has coordinated very effectively with Post in the past. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶4. Post recommends that the USG take advantage of this opportunity to not only strengthen the Costa Rican judiciary in general but also to address the training issues of concern to the USG. Ideally, U.S. consultants would work closely with the Judicial School to produce a series of case study books on issues including courtroom procedures, intellectual property rights, expropriation/confiscation of goods, organized crime, human trafficking and narcotics. If it is not possible to provide consultants in country, Carvajal suggested the possibility of DVCs with U.S. case study book editors/writers. ¶5. Post urges relevant bureaus (ECA, INL, and WHA) and the Department of Justice-OPDAT to discuss what USG resources might be directed to support this project. From our initial analysis, we believe that support for this initiative would have a low cost yet significant impact. BRENNAN