The Norman Transcript (Norman, OK)
Posted on September 25, 2006
Five Russian judges spent last Monday at the University of Oklahoma College of Law learning about the American judicial system and its role in society.
According to a release, the college welcomed the delegation as part of a program administered by the Open World Leadership Center, an agency created by the U.S. Congress in 1999. The purpose of the agency is to bring Russian political and civic leaders to this country to meet with their American counterparts and observe democracy and free enterprise. The Rotary Club of Oklahoma City and Judge Stephen P. Friot of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma served as hosts for the Russians' visit to Oklahoma.
The judges participated in a round-table discussion with OU law professors and students, watched the OU College of Law Constitution Day program for first-year law students and were the guests of OU President David Boren at a reception at Boyd House.
OU College of Law Dean Andrew M. Coats also hosted them at Coats Hall where dinner was served in the Chapman Reading Room of the Donald E. Pray Law Library.
"We are delighted to participate in the Open World Program," stated Coats.
"We hope that our Russian guests learned from us and we certainly learned a lot from them. In the world today, any program which brings people from different countries and different cultures together is a worthy effort."
[Reprinted with Permission]
