Cambodian Supreme Court and our new home!
On Thursday, June 2, the other interns and I went to the Cambodian Supreme Court to hear an LAC lawyer argued a case. The Cambodian Supreme Court is MUCH different from the U.S. Supreme Court. The courtroom is not protected by security, nor air-conditioned. The room is bare and quite run-down. Only five of the nine justices listened to the case.
The procedure was quite different from American civil procedure. We listened to a case involving a contract dispute. After a judge read a summary of the case, the appellee first stated his argument, followed by the appellant’s argument. The justices were free to ask questions at any time. After the appellant’s argument, the lawyers for each party were allowed to make their case. LAC’s lawyer made recommendations to the justices, including what questions the justices should ask the appellee. The opposing counsel never questions an opposing party at any point throughout the trial.
Most notably, the courtroom was much less formal than an American courtroom. While the LAC lawyer’s client was arguing his case, the LAC lawyer’s mobile phone rang. He answered his phone in court. Also, a justice’s phone rang, and he answered it while another justice was talking.
The LAC client and the opposing party were disputing over interest payments following the contract. Essentially, the case boiled down to a he said/she said dispute, and the LAC lawyer nearly accused the other party of lying on the stand. After the LAC lawyer finished arguing his case, our client sat with the spectators as he waited for his verdict. (The justices decide each case the same day the case is argued.) While the other cases were argued, our client opened his Bible and began reading, as if to say, "Look, justices--I'm the one telling the truth!"
After a week of extensive apartment shopping, we found a great house to rent. It is located only a 10-minute walk from work, and all of us have our own rooms and bathrooms. The house costs less than the guesthouse we were staying at, and we even have two kitchens and an amazing patio (it even has ceiling fans!) It’s much more comfortable than the guesthouse, and it’s nice to have our own space.
Speaking of the other legal interns, I should probably say a few words about each of them (so I no longer need to ambiguously refer to them as “the other interns.”) Mike is from Minnesota and is a student at William Mitchell. As I mentioned in my first entry, we were lucky enough to meet in Minneapolis before we left for Cambodia (and fortunately I met his wife Mary, whom Mike misses terribly.) For his research topic, he is focusing on Cambodian land use issues—a really big deal right now because corrupt government officials and military leaders have been taking advantage of illiterate and poor farmers and seizing their land unfairly. Mike and I met up in Bangkok, and we flew to Phnom Penh together—I consider him my oldest friend in Cambodia. :)
Matt is from California and attends Harvard University. He arrived in Phnom Penh a night before the rest of us, so he managed to explore the city a little before we arrive (including buying a nice “authentic” Swiss watch at the Central Market.) He just bought a moto from a friend who is returning to the US next week, and he is a pretty good driver. I’ve rode with him a few times, and I think that I should start wearing the helmet I bought last Sunday a bit more frequently. (Just because of the other drivers, not because of his driving skills—I swear!)
Leigh Anne was the last to arrive in Phnom Penh, and we didn’t meet until Monday morning before work. Leigh Anne hails from Toronto, and she attends Victoria College. She spent last semester interning at a corporate law firm in Bangkok, and she’s lead a really interesting life and traveled a lot. She’s trying to talk her parents into visiting Cambodia (as am I—hopefully one of us will succeed.)
We even have roommate who doesn’t work at LAC. Gabe is from New Jersey, and he and Matt are good friends from law school. Gabe works at the Documentation Center of Cambodia, and he’s a really good guy. He and Matt are going to take over a local radio show while they are here—it should be quite interesting…
All of the interns are really great—very interesting people who are really laid-back. We spend all our time together—we work together, live together, and eat together...) By August 5th, we are either going to be really tired of each other or suffer severe separation anxiety when we part. They are really wonderful, and they are like my family in Cambodia.
Both Leigh Anne and Matt would like to do their projects on evidence issues with rape cases, and Leigh Anne is also interested in working on domestic violence issues. Legislation is pending right now in Cambodia that aims to strengthen domestic violence laws, so it is a very timely issue. Speaking of research projects, I think I have zoned my project further. I met a woman at the gym yesterday, and she suggested that I analyze the latest version of the Cambodian anti-trafficking draft law. I am very excited about this new project, and I think it will be helpful to LAC, the NGOs in Cambodia, and the women and children who are affected by trafficking. The woman also gave me the names of several contacts who will help jumpstart my research.
This entry has gotten quite long, so I’ll write more later…
The procedure was quite different from American civil procedure. We listened to a case involving a contract dispute. After a judge read a summary of the case, the appellee first stated his argument, followed by the appellant’s argument. The justices were free to ask questions at any time. After the appellant’s argument, the lawyers for each party were allowed to make their case. LAC’s lawyer made recommendations to the justices, including what questions the justices should ask the appellee. The opposing counsel never questions an opposing party at any point throughout the trial.
Most notably, the courtroom was much less formal than an American courtroom. While the LAC lawyer’s client was arguing his case, the LAC lawyer’s mobile phone rang. He answered his phone in court. Also, a justice’s phone rang, and he answered it while another justice was talking.
The LAC client and the opposing party were disputing over interest payments following the contract. Essentially, the case boiled down to a he said/she said dispute, and the LAC lawyer nearly accused the other party of lying on the stand. After the LAC lawyer finished arguing his case, our client sat with the spectators as he waited for his verdict. (The justices decide each case the same day the case is argued.) While the other cases were argued, our client opened his Bible and began reading, as if to say, "Look, justices--I'm the one telling the truth!"
After a week of extensive apartment shopping, we found a great house to rent. It is located only a 10-minute walk from work, and all of us have our own rooms and bathrooms. The house costs less than the guesthouse we were staying at, and we even have two kitchens and an amazing patio (it even has ceiling fans!) It’s much more comfortable than the guesthouse, and it’s nice to have our own space.
Speaking of the other legal interns, I should probably say a few words about each of them (so I no longer need to ambiguously refer to them as “the other interns.”) Mike is from Minnesota and is a student at William Mitchell. As I mentioned in my first entry, we were lucky enough to meet in Minneapolis before we left for Cambodia (and fortunately I met his wife Mary, whom Mike misses terribly.) For his research topic, he is focusing on Cambodian land use issues—a really big deal right now because corrupt government officials and military leaders have been taking advantage of illiterate and poor farmers and seizing their land unfairly. Mike and I met up in Bangkok, and we flew to Phnom Penh together—I consider him my oldest friend in Cambodia. :)
Matt is from California and attends Harvard University. He arrived in Phnom Penh a night before the rest of us, so he managed to explore the city a little before we arrive (including buying a nice “authentic” Swiss watch at the Central Market.) He just bought a moto from a friend who is returning to the US next week, and he is a pretty good driver. I’ve rode with him a few times, and I think that I should start wearing the helmet I bought last Sunday a bit more frequently. (Just because of the other drivers, not because of his driving skills—I swear!)
Leigh Anne was the last to arrive in Phnom Penh, and we didn’t meet until Monday morning before work. Leigh Anne hails from Toronto, and she attends Victoria College. She spent last semester interning at a corporate law firm in Bangkok, and she’s lead a really interesting life and traveled a lot. She’s trying to talk her parents into visiting Cambodia (as am I—hopefully one of us will succeed.)
We even have roommate who doesn’t work at LAC. Gabe is from New Jersey, and he and Matt are good friends from law school. Gabe works at the Documentation Center of Cambodia, and he’s a really good guy. He and Matt are going to take over a local radio show while they are here—it should be quite interesting…
All of the interns are really great—very interesting people who are really laid-back. We spend all our time together—we work together, live together, and eat together...) By August 5th, we are either going to be really tired of each other or suffer severe separation anxiety when we part. They are really wonderful, and they are like my family in Cambodia.
Both Leigh Anne and Matt would like to do their projects on evidence issues with rape cases, and Leigh Anne is also interested in working on domestic violence issues. Legislation is pending right now in Cambodia that aims to strengthen domestic violence laws, so it is a very timely issue. Speaking of research projects, I think I have zoned my project further. I met a woman at the gym yesterday, and she suggested that I analyze the latest version of the Cambodian anti-trafficking draft law. I am very excited about this new project, and I think it will be helpful to LAC, the NGOs in Cambodia, and the women and children who are affected by trafficking. The woman also gave me the names of several contacts who will help jumpstart my research.
This entry has gotten quite long, so I’ll write more later…
posted by Laura at 7:21 PM
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