Republic of Austria hosts ABOTA’s Board of Directors at Palace of Justice, site of the Austrian judicial system

      VIENNA, Austria (June 22, 2009) — Members of ABOTA’s National Board of Directors met with Austrian judges and lawyers at the historic Palace of Justice. Dr Wolfgang Poeschl, vice president of the High Court of Austria, welcomed ABOTA to Austria and provided an overview of Austria’s judicial system, judiciary and guiding principles. 
       ABOTA National President John L. Holcomb spoke on behalf of ABOTA and thanked the Republic of Austria for welcoming ABOTA and commented on the commitment and dedication of Austria’s legal system, which he described as a valuable asset to its citizens by providing easy access to the law.
      Dr. Poeschl described the Palace of Justice and its place in history in his introductory remarks before discussing the Austrian judiciary, considered in Austria to be the third pillar next to the legislative and administrative in a country under the rule of law.
      “A well functioning judicial system is essential to Austria and is the guiding principle in all that we do here,” Dr. Poeschl said. He compared the two judicial systems — Austria and the United States — saying the countries have differences in the way their respective systems operate, but both maintain the same aim, “to serve the people.”
      He said that the Austrian judicial system works hard to provide to its citizens that their access to the law is as simple and barrier-free as possible.
      ABOTA’s National Board was in Vienna and Salzburg as part of the association’s annual International Meeting, June 20-27.