Distinguished ELI Panel at the World Law Congress

05.05.2025

Top experts discuss protection of liberal democracy and judicial independence at an event in Dominican Republic.

The European Law Institute (ELI) is honoured to host a distinguished panel at the prestigious World Law Congress 2025, taking place from 4–6 May in the Dominican Republic. The panel, etitled ‘Protection of Liberal Democracy and Judicial Independence’, will convene globally renowned legal minds to address one of the most urgent challenges of our time: safeguarding the rule of law in the face of democratic backsliding.

Building on the ELI-Mount Scopus European Standards of Judicial Independence and the ELI Charter of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy, the session will explore the role of courts in defending liberal democracy and outline effective legal and institutional strategies to counter threats to judicial independence, including those posed by digital transformation and political interference.

At the forefront of this timely discussion will be Marko Bošnjak, President of the European Court of Human Rights, whose leadership on the international judicial stage exemplifies the critical role of courts in defending liberal democracy. He will be joined by other eminent figures who bring deep insight into constitutional justice, human rights, and the independence of the judiciary.

Distinguished panel includes:

 

  • Moderator: Shimon Shetreet (Co-Reporter of ELI-Mount Scopus European Standards of Judicial Independence project; President, International Association of Judicial Independence and World Peace; Hebrew University)
  • Keynote: Pascal Pichonnaz (ELI President; Professor, University of Fribourg)
  • Panelists:
    • Marko Bošnjak (President, European Court of Human Rights)
    • Doris König (Vice President, Federal Constitutional Court of Germany)
    • Elise Muir (Co-Reporter of ELI Charter of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy; Professor, KU Leuven)
    • Valentina Pavličić (President, Supreme Court of Montenegro)
    • Margaret Satterthwaite (UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; Professor, New York University)

This panel underscores ELI’s continued commitment to fostering resilient legal systems and promoting international dialogue on judicial integrity and democratic resilience.

More information is available here.

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