PALCUS Judicial/Legal Exchange

The Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States, in conjunction with the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America and Lisbon University School of Law, conducted a Judicial/Legal Conference, November 6-11, 2000, and took place at the Catholic University Law School, Washington, D.C.

This was the first of what is to become an annual event alternating between Washington, D.C. and Lisbon, Portugal. The conference brought together leaders of the Portuguese Judiciary, including the Minister of Justice, Attorney General and eminent Judges and Attorneys, with counterparts from the Supreme Court, Department of Justice and other judicial and legal notables in the United States.

The conference provided a forum for the interchange of ideas on numerous legal subject areas, including cyber law, standards and codes, intellectual property rights, and other comparative law issues that impact on the European Union and the United States.

The conference included visits, tours and meetings by the Portuguese Judicial Delegation to the: D.C. Superior Court; The U.S. Supreme Court; D.C. Bar Association; Democratic and Republican National Committee Headquarters; Federal District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland; The Department of Justice; The White House; The Library of Congress; as well as attending and participating in several lectures on: "East Timor: legal issues, peace keeping, role of the Church"; "Electronic surveillance and wiretapping"; "Oil, Diamonds and Corporate Social Responsibility: The American Role"; and on the issue of Cyberlaw.

Before Tour of White House - Pictured from left to right: Mr. Manuel Ramos (Chairman of the Board, PALCUS); Dr. Miguel Galvao (Attorney-at-Law, Lisbon); Prof. Luis Lima de Pinheiro (Professor of Law, U. of Lisbon); The Honorable Artur Mauricio (Judge of the Constutional Court, Lisbon); Dr. Jose Miguel Judice (Attorney at Law, Lisbon); Prof. Paulo Pitta e Cunha (Prof. of Law, U. of Lisbon); Mrs. Magalhaes; Mrs. Judice; Mrs. Peres Seia; The Honorable Maria Candida Almeida (Assistant Attorney General); Prof. Luis Menezes Leitao (Prof. of Law, Lisbon); The Honorable Jorge Alberto Aragao Seia (Justice of the Supreme Court); and The Honorable Joao Fernando Fernandes de Magalhaes (Justice of the Supreme Court).

At the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland - Pictured from left to right: The Honorable Artur Mauricio (Justice of the Constitutional Court); Mrs. Messitte; Mr. Phillip Feliciano (PALCUS General Counsel); Judge Peter Messitte (U.S. District Court Judge); Prof. Paulo Pitta e Cunha (Prof. of Law, U. of Lisbon); Mr. Jose Miguel Judice (Attorney-at-Law); The Honorable Joao Fernando Fernandes de Magalhaes (Justice of the Supreme Court); The Honorable Maria Candida Almeida (Assistant Attorney General); Prof. Luis Menezes Leitao (Prof. of Law, U. of Lisbon); The Honorable Jorge Alberto Aragao Seia (Justice of the Supreme Court); Mr. Ronald J. Cruz (President of PALCUS); Mr. Miguel Galvao Teles (Attorney-at-Law)

To find out more about how to participate in this program, please contact the PALCUS office.