Ukrainian Judges Visit Boston

Washington - The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation hosted a delegation of Ukrainian judges in July 2011 as part of a program sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center of the Library of Congress.

The U.S. Congress established Open World in 1999 to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and Russia. In 2003, Congress made all post-Soviet states eligible for the program. Open World promotes partnerships and continued communications between delegates and their American hosts and professional counterparts.

Open World has introduced more than 16,500 current and future decision makers from Ukraine, Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union to American political and civic life, and to their American counterparts. Open World delegates range from first-time mayors to veteran journalists, from nonprofit directors to small-business advocates, and from political activists to judges at all levels.

For this July 2011 judicial program, which was held in Boston, Massachusetts, the Ukrainian delegates included Taras Yaroslavovych Bahriy, Judge of the Urban District Court of Ternopil, Iryna Volodymyrivna Bondaryeva, Senior Consultant to the Kharkiv Region Court, Lyubomyr Mykhaylovych Butkivskyy, Judge of the Bohorodchany District Court in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Oleksandra Hennadiyivna Litvinova, Judge of the Shevchenkivyskiy District Court of Chernivtsi, Oksana Hryhorivna Zavydovska-Marchuk, Judge and the Deputy Head of Civic Cases Chamber, Court of Appeals of Volyn Oblast, and Kateryna Oleksiyivna Tyminska, Group Facilitator and Legislative Fellowship Coordinator from the American Councils for International Education. 

After arriving in Washington, DC, the delegation was welcomed at a reception, hosted by the Foundation’s president, Nadia Komarnyckyj McConnell and her husband Robert McConnell at their home in McLean, Virginia on Friday, July 8, 2011.

The delegation was then off for Boston, where they experienced a very full 8 day professional and cultural program.

The program’s hosting judge in Boston was Marianne B. Bowler, U.S. Magistrate Judge of the District of Massachusetts.   The delegates were also joined by U.S.-Ukraine Foundation Vice President John A. Kun during their Boston visit.  The interpreters were Ludmyla Lantsuta-Davis and Svitlana Budzhak-Jones.  

The Ukrainian judges spent the week observing trials and meeting with their judicial peers, including Judge Bowler, U.S. Magistrate Judge Leo Sorokin, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Frank Bailey, Chief Judge Sandra Lynch of the First Circuit Court of Appeals, Joseph Nolan, Retired Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Justice Robert Cordy of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judge Nathaniel Gorton and Carmen Ortiz, U.S. Attorney.

The Ukrainian judges had several interesting experiences during their week stay, including witnessing a large U.S. citizenship ceremony, administered by Judge Bowler, at the John F. Kennedy Library.  Tom McNaught, Executive Director of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, greeted the Ukrainian judges and provided a tour of the extraordinary facility.

USUF VP John A. Kun presents Marianne B. Bowler, U.S. Magistrate Judge of the District of Massachusetts, with an award for her outstanding volunteer leadership in hosting the Open World Judge Delegation from Ukraine at a closing ceremony at Old City Hall
in downtown Boston, Friday, July 15.

One afternoon was spent at Harvard University, with a guided tour of the campus followed by an informative session at the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute with Tymish Holowinsky, Executive Director, Dr. Lubomyr Hajda, Associate Director, Dr. Halyna Hryn, Dr. Marika Whaley and Dr. Volodymyr Dibrova, attending.

The judges learned about the state of legal education in the U.S. by visiting Suffolk University Law School, located in downtown Boston, and listened to the remarks of Christopher Gibson, Associate Dean and Professor of Law.

A meeting at the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, was hosted by
Rabbi James Morgan, Ph.D., Director of Israel and International Partnerships. The JCRC conducts the Dnipropetrovsk Kehillah Project in Ukraine. 

The Ukrainian judges were provided the opportunity to make a public presentation – followed by a question and answer period - at Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church, following services and a light lunch on Sunday, July 10.  The Rev. Yaroslav Nalysnyk, who was very welcoming to the visitors, helped to arrange this event which attracted 50 people.

Following a presentation at Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church, the judges were photographed with some of the parishioners who attended.

Social activities also filled the schedule as well.  The judges along with about 60 members of Boston’s Ukrainian-American community got a real taste of New England by attending a Clam Bake/Lobster Fest, sponsored by the Ukrainian American Educational Center of Boston, MA, and held in Dedham, MA on Saturday, July 9. 

The delegation also toured Boston, enjoyed an outdoor evening event at the home of Olga Santos, swam in the Atlantic Ocean at Nahant Beach near Lynn, MA, and were guests of Judge Bowler and her husband, Dr. Marc Pfeffer, at an evening reception held at their home.

Ukrainian judges are Boston Fans! ... at a Clambake & Lobsterfest sponsored by the Ukrainian American Educational Center of Boston. The event was held on Saturday, July 9 in Dedham, MA. Photo courtesy of the UAEC.

In order for the Open World visitor to truly experience America, a key social aspect of the program is the emphasis on family hosting.  The judges enriched their U.S. experience by staying overnight at the area homes of Lubomyr Hajda, Ted and Olya Majkut, Volodymyr and Ludmyla Pushak.  Their hospitality is much appreciated!  

The program concluded with ceremony and reception held at a restaurant located in Boston’s Old City Hall in downtown Boston.  The Ukrainian judges each received a certificate of completion and a keepsake of Boston.  The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation also presented Judge Marianne Bowler with an award for her outstanding leadership in volunteerism in planning the professional program, securing venues and arranging for the many speakers to participate.

To see more photos, go to Facebook: Boston Ukraine Judge Delegation.

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