As North Macedonia looks to join the European Union, after having recently joined NATO, one of the areas of focus is on judicial reform. This program will examine the U.S. commitment to the promotion of transparency, ethics, and judicial independence in a democracy. Meetings and site visits will highlight the judiciaryÕs role in preserving democratic practices such as due process, trial by jury, the right to representation and a fair trial, the role of the public defender, the appeals process, judicial appointments/elections, and governmental accountability. Participants will learn about federal and state judicial systems under the U.S. model of federalism. In examining the workings of an independent judiciary in criminal and civil proceedings, the participants will observe trials and court procedures, meet with judges, prosecutors, public defenders, local law schools and other relevant agencies.