2004 Programs and Events

Embassy and Laos Justice Ministry Hold Joint Seminar on On Enforcement of Court Decisions (Oct. 7, 2004)

Deputy Minister of Justice Mr. Ket Kiattisack and U.S. Ambassador Patricia M. Haslach delivered remarks at the Opening Ceremony.

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) program and the Ministry of Justice of Laos jointly held a two-day seminar on the newly–passed Law On Enforcement of Court Decisions at the International Cooperation and Training Center on October 6-7, 2004.

Deputy Minister of Justice Mr. Ket Kiattisack and U.S. Ambassador Patricia M. Haslach delivered remarks at the Opening Ceremony.

The purpose of the seminar was to inform Lao judicial officials about the new Law on Enforcement of Court Decisions, passed by the National Assembly in April 2004. The new Law will be a critical component of Laos' ongoing effort to improve its judicial system. More than 60 Lao officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecutor General's Office, the People’s Supreme Court and provincial and municipal judicial offices attended the two-day seminar.

At the seminar, an expert from the Ministry of Justice discuss the new Law. Also participating were three guest speakers from the United States: Mr. Shon Hastings, an Assistant U.S. Attorney from North Dakota; Ms. Laurie Levin, the Assistant Director of the Financial Litigation Unit, U.S. Department of Justice; and Mr. Alan Storhoff, a Deputy U.S. Marshall from North Dakota.

The U.S. Department of Justice's OPDAT program is a judicial assistance program that conducts projects throughout the world in countries undertaking development of their justice systems. The joint Ministry of Justice-OPDAT seminar represents the second cooperative effort between the OPDAT program and the Lao government. It also marks an important step in the ongoing development of cooperation between the two countries in the area of judicial and legal reform.