Liudmila Novoselova Likely to Chair Russia's New Intellectual Property Court

Supreme Arbitration Court Judge Liudmila Novoselova will likely become chair of Russia's new court being created exclusively to handle intellectual property rights issues. She is the only candidate for the position, and is expected to obtain formal approval at the next session of the Board of Judges in September.  Without speculating about her future role, Novoselova explained that the court for intellectual property rights would be completely new to the Russian judicial system, and among its priorities would be to ensure uniform practice on disputes concerning the protection of intellectual property rights, to work closely with government agencies and non-governmental organizations in this field, and to cooperate with the scientific community.  Novoselova, a recognized authority in the the field of civil, corporate and finance law, graduated from the Law Faculty of Moscow State University.  In 1984 she began working in the State Arbitration Court, and in 1992 she became a judge of the newly created Supreme Arbitration Court.
http://izvestia.ru/news/533719

Russian Parliament to Consider Bill on Remote Trials

Several prominent members of the Russian Parliament (Duma) submitted a bill for consideration that will legalize remote trials in Russia. If the bill is passed, Russian judges will be allowed to try civil and criminal cases that originate in regions beyond the jurisdiction of those judges' courts. One of the primary purposes of the bill is to promote fair trials in the Caucasus region in southern Russia where local criminal and religious clans often impact judicial impartiality. Prominent Russian lawyer Igor Trunov and other experts have expressed support for the bill.

http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2011/05/14_a_3617565.shtml

Ukrainian Judicial Convention Elects New Leaders and Judges

Delegates to The Tenth Extraordinary Convention of Judges of Ukraine, the highest body of judicial self-government, recently elected:  new members for the Council of Judges; four judges for the Constitutional Court; two members for the High Council of Justice, and a new Chairman for the State Judicial Administration (an executive body).  President Viktor Yanukovych addressed the Convention emphasizing that an “independent, accessible and efficient justice system, which meets world standards, is one of the main priorities of Ukraine.” Delegates admitted that the anonymity of the election was somewhat of a formality because discussions regarding candidates were held during conferences.   In addition, delegates stated that the convention bulletins did not offer alternative candidates for voting purposes.

http://www.kommersant.ua/doc.html?docId=1505532
http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/18158.html