On Monday, July 19, Charge d'Affaires Kent Logsdon will join Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Eka Zguladze to open a mock jury trial courtroom at the Ministry of Internal Affairs Police Academy funded by the U.S. GHN was informed about this in Georgia by the Embassy of USA.

Government through the Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). A second courtroom at the Ministry of Justice was dedicated in April. These facilities will allow police and prosecutors to be videotaped and later evaluated and critiqued for training and professional development purposes so they are better prepared to testify and present evidence at jury trials.
The mock jury trial courtroom supports the Ministry of Internal Affairs Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) Training Program and will be used by police academy to CPC and courtroom testimony trainings for Georgian police. The courtroom is modeled after a real jury courtroom and is equipped with appropriate technology to allow for presentation of evidence on a viewing screen. Additionally video recording capability has been incorporated to record police' performance, which can be then evaluated and critiqued by the Legal Instructor for training purposes. INL provided $41,000 funding to construct and furnish the police academy mock courtroom.
The Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia allowing for jury trials enters into force in October 2010, initially in Tbilisi. The U.S. Government has provided assistance to Georgia aimed at preparing law enforcement professionals for this important transition to the new, adversarial legal system since 2001; establishing a Jury Trial Courtroom is one example of this assistance.
In addition to constructing the courtroom, INL funds a U.S. subject matter expert, Ms. Stacie Summerhill to provide training to police on the requirements of the new CPC, as well as requirements for effective and professional testimony in a courtroom setting. Ms. Summerhill has over twelve years of experience as prosecutor in the United States. INL also funds a Senior Police Advisor, Mr. Michael Turner, to support the police academy's efforts to provide professional skills training for the police. Mr. Turner is working with Georgian police on how the new CPC will affect the way they conduct law enforcement operations. Mr. Turner has over 30 years of experience as a police officer in the United States.