Fowler School of Law Welcomes Israeli Supreme Court Justice for Final Chapman Dialogue of the Year
April 19, 2016
On April 5, the 2015-2016 Chapman Dialogue Lecture Series came to a close with a special installment featuring guest speaker Justice Salim Joubran of the Supreme Court of Israel. The law school community was honored with his presentation entitled “Freedom of Religion and the Role of the Supreme Court,” which was followed by a lively question and answer session with Fowler School of Law Professor Michael Bazyler and more than 100 student and faculty guests. The Dialogue was co-sponsored by the Rose Project of the Jewish Federation & Family Services of Orange County.
Justice Joubran’s presentation focused on explaining the judicial process in Israel, particularly at the Supreme Court and its large caseload of appeals and other actions originating there. He provided key insights from a comparative perspective on the similarities and differences between the judicial systems in Israel and the United States. He described the complications of an unwritten constitution compared with a written one, the role of the Basic Laws and protections for human rights in Israel, and the principle of separation of powers within the Israel system of governance. Justice Joubran’s first-hand, high-level insight on the Israeli judicial system and his deep understanding of comparative law provided a truly unique educational experience for the attendees.
Justice Joubran with LL.M. students Noga Halperin and Liora Kulik
Prior to the presentation, Justice Joubran met with Fowler School of Law faculty and students, along with members of the Rose Project. Two LL.M. students included in the meeting, Liora Kulik and Noga Halperin, both from Israel, said it was a unique opportunity to learn more about their own justice system, and one they’d be unlikely encounter at home.
Justice Salim Joubran is the Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel. A graduate from the Law Faculty at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Joubran has served as the Judge at the Magistrate Court in Haifa in 1982-1993 and the Appointed Judge of the District Court in Haifa in 1993.
Justice Joubran with Fowler School of Law Professor Michael Bazyler
Joubran currently serves as the Chairperson of the Central Elections Committee to the 20th Knesset. He is also a member of the Board of the “Jewish-Arab Center” at the University of Haifa, a member of the Board of Trustees at the University of Haifa, and is recognized as Honorary Doctorate from the University of Haifa.
About the Chapman Dialogue Lecture Series
The Chapman Dialogue Lecture Series is a special lineup of distinguished lectures by innovative and thought-provoking legal scholars as well as some of the nation’s most prominent legal practitioners. Invited speakers present their research and ideas to a wide audience of faculty, students, alumni and special guests. Each Dialogue concludes with a lively Question and Answer session, typically led by one or two discussants from among the Fowler School of Law faculty.
