Indiana University hosted a conference featuring pioneering women judges from the Middle East and North Africa, offering invaluable insights to law and Arabic language students. The event, moderated by Maurer School Dean Christiana Ochoa, discussed the rise of female representation in regional judiciaries and its societal impacts.
Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law and Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies recently played host to a groundbreaking conference. The event, titled “Her Excellency: A Conversation With Women Judges From the Constitutional Courts in the MENA Region,” provided a unique opportunity for law and Arabic language students.
Organized by IU’s Center for the Study of the Middle East and the Center for Constitutional Democracy, this remarkable conference unfolded in the Maurer School of Law’s DeLaney Moot Court Room. Christiana Ochoa, the Dean of the Maurer School, who holds the distinction of being the institution’s first Latine dean, moderated the public discourse on Sept. 25.
The conference featured an illustrious panel of women judges from the Middle Eastern and North African region. Among them was Jordan’s first female judge, a member of Lebanon’s Constitutional Council, and a female judge from the Moroccan Constitutional Court. These trailblazing figures discussed the growing representation of women in their respective judiciaries and the positive societal impacts of this transformation. Judge Mireille Najm from Lebanon aptly observed, “When you have both genders, it can be complementary, and you can have both perspectives, which is an added value.”
Overcoming challenges
In addition to their achievements, the panelists candidly shared the challenges and resistance they encountered on their paths to these high-profile roles. Taghrid Hikmet, Jordan’s first female member of its Constitutional Court, revealed that her journey commenced as a teacher due to her father’s initial opposition to her pursuing a legal education.
Beyond the panel discussion, the judges engaged with students enrolled in the Hamilton Lugar School’s Arabic Flagship Program. During this interaction, the judges fielded questions and provided insights into the legal systems of their respective countries. The discussion was conducted entirely in Arabic, offering both cultural and linguistic educational benefits.
Invaluable educational experience
Hayleigh Keasling, a senior focusing on international studies and Middle Eastern languages, emphasized the value of the experience. “This meeting was not only beneficial for language acquisition but also for a deeper understanding of the region’s legal systems,” she stated.
The conference aligns with the Center for Constitutional Democracy’s mission to promote global gender equality. Furthermore, it underscores IU’s dedication to nurturing a global educational environment. Feisal Istrabadi, director of the Center for the Study of the Middle East, affirmed that such opportunities make IU’s global education offerings distinctive.
