June 22, 2006

The Honorable Richard G. Stearns, U.S. Federal District Judge, Visits Armenia

The Honorable Richard G. Stearns, a U.S. Federal Judge, accompanied by U.S. Department of Justice Prosecutor Michael Yoon, visited Armenia June 17 through 23. In Armenia at the invitation of the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Department of Justice, Judge Stearns met with several of Armenia´s leading judges and with Justice Minister David Harutunian, who chairs Armenia´s Judicial Reform Council. Judge Stearns also conducted training sessions for Armenian judges, the Prosecutor General's Office, and the Armenian Police Department. The training sessions focused on trafficking in persons issues, and specifically on victims' rights and the protection of witnesses.

The Honorable Richard G. Stearns has been a United States District Judge at the Massachusetts Federal District Court since 1994. Previously, he served as an Associate Justice on the Superior Court of Massachusetts. Judge Stearns received his B.A. from Stanford University, M. Litt. from Oxford University (where he was a Rhodes Scholar), and J.D. from Harvard Law School

U.S. Embassy Resident Legal Advisor Cynthia Lie, U.S. Federal Judge Richard Stearns, and Department of Justice Prosecutor Michael Yoon lead a training session.

Legal Advisor Cynthia Lie, Judge Richard Stearns, and Prosecutor Michael Yoon train judges and police officers in Armenia.

Armenian judges and police officers participate in a training session with U.S. Federal Judge Richard Stearns.