The state of Georgia hosts the Republic of Georgia - the spirit of international judicial cooperation.

• Author: Kimbrough, Kem

CLAYTON COUNTY'S three elected constitutional officials (district attorney, solicitor general, and sheriff) awake each morning never really expecting what challenges their many phone calls, e-mails, text messages, or visitors might provide. Sadly, in our business of enforcing laws and holding criminal defendants accountable for their conduct, many of these contacts result in our friends and neighbors being arrested, facing long confinements or hefty financial judgments. Some defendants are fundamentally good and decent people who just lose their brains, got too emotionally involved, or had to get the last "word" in some dispute. Some cases involve career criminals whose "jobs" are raking, stealing, and victimizing others. Arresting and prosecuting these types of predators brings the personal and professional satisfaction of making our community safer.

"CLAYTON COUNTY, ARE Y'ALL UP TO HOSTING SIX INTERNATIONAL VISITORS?"

For the authors, a telephone call in early November broke the everyday routine of cases, arrests, defendants, processing evidence, security screening of courthouse visitors, comforting victims, and trials. "Good morning. I represent a group sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress. We desire to bring a contingent of international judges, lawyers, and judicial branch officials from the Republic of Georgia to tour Clayton County's Jail and Courthouse Complex. Are you able to host this tour to strengthen international judicial relationships?" In rapid fashion, the authors agreed Clayton County would be honored and humbled to provide a VIP tour of our facilities.

THE OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

The congressionally-funded Open World Leadership Center brings emerging leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and other post-Soviet states to the United States to give them first hand exposure to the American system of participatory democracy and free enterprise. The program allows American leaders and their counterparts from Eurasia's strategic heartland to engage constructively with one another in a manner that complements the U.S. Congress's public diplomacy efforts on timely issues such as Rule of Law, accountable governance, and the environment. The principles of accountability, transparency, and citizen involvement in government are among the concepts emphasized by the Open World program.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA'S DELEGATION DETAILS

There were numerous organizations which contributed to these...