Differences -- and similarities -- between adjudicating cases in the United States and the European Union were the highlight of a discussion between a retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice, a member of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), legal scholars, and University of Luxembourg students and faculty on Tuesday 29 May 2012.

The programme, which was the opening session of the inaugural Luxembourg Forum – a meeting of representatives of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union– this year featured retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and CJEU Judge Koen Lenaerts. The discussion was chaired by Department of State Legal Adviser Harold Hongju Koh, the former Dean of Yale Law School.

After an introduction by Professor André Prüm, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance at the University of Luxembourg and a welcoming address by U.S. Ambassador Robert A. Mandell, each of the judges described the merits and limitations of the respective courts using examples from past rulings. Following their comparison of cases, the two took questions from students and faculty.

The Forum is designed to facilitate mutual understanding between European and American high courts and an initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Department of State. This year’s attendees include professors from several prominent U.S. law schools and the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance at the University of Luxembourg. The keynote participant is Justice O’Connor.

Following her appointment by then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Justice O’Connor became the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. She served as Associate Justice from 1981 to 2006. Prior to her appointment, Justice O'Connor held judicial and legislative positions. She served as a state senator representing the U.S. state of Arizona and later as a judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals. Justice O’Connor completed her undergraduate and law degrees at California’s Stanford University.

Launched in 2012, the Luxembourg Forum is a legal exchange between the U.S. Supreme Court and the CJEU that provides high-level transatlantic judicial consultations and discussion.  Its principal goals are to facilitate dialogue and enhance mutual understanding between the U.S. and EU judicial systems.  This year’s meeting reflects the priorities of the principal participants while integrating academic, official, and public participation. The first full official session of the forum is planned for February 2014 in Luxembourg -- home of the Court of Justice of the European Union. 

The University of Luxembourg, founded in 2003, is a multilingual, international research university. It offers a very unique environment to students and researchers alike, thanks to the proximity of the institutions of the European Union, the Luxembourg financial centre and the attractive national job market, but also thanks to the outstanding multilingual situation of the Grand Duchy. The Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance offers, among others, three Master in European Law (LL.M.) programmes. With students from over 80 different countries, professors from 15 countries, and exchange agreements with over 25 outstanding universities around the world, the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance at the University of Luxembourg offers an environment with a truly comparative approach to legal issues, with degrees taught in English and French at the bachelor, master and PhD level, with English only as an option at the master and PhD level.