Judge Peggy Hora Wins Thinker in Residence Award

Our congratulations to Judge Peggy Hora who has been chosen as a Thinker in Residence for Adelaide, South Australia. "Mike Rann, the Premier of South Australia, invites two or three world-class thinkers to Adelaide each year to live and work. An invitation to appointment as an Adelaide Thinker in Residence is a prestigious award which recognises both exceptional talent and outstanding leadership."

She was nominated by the judiciary and the Courts Administration Authority of SA. Her subject will be therapeutic jurisprudence and restorative justice. (For more information, see: http://www.thinkers.sa.gov.au).

"The Thinkers undertake residencies of 2 - 6 months, in which they assist South Australia to build on its climate of creativity, innovation and excellence. The Thinkers provide the State with strategies for future development in the arts and sciences, social policy, environmental sustainability and economic development."

"The Thinkers each have a tailored program of activities, including project leadership, research, master-classes, public lectures, mentoring, writing and publishing. The public lectures are presented in conjunction with the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre of the University of South Australia."

What does this mean practically? All this is subject to negotiation but she think she will go to Australia in the Fall/Winter of 2009 for 6-8 weeks; talk to everyone about the issues of TJ and RJ (especially problem-solving courts); come back and think; go back and talk about what she thought about; and, eventually write a report making recommendations to the three branches of government. Over 90% of Thinkers' recommendations have been implemented so it is an opportunity to have a tremendous impact on international justice policy.