LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 9, 2011 – Arent Fox Los Angeles managing partner Robert C. O’Brien, who serves as co-chair of the US Department of State Public-Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan, has returned from an assessment and fact-finding mission to Afghanistan where he met with American and senior Afghan officials to discuss the ongoing efforts to strengthen Afghanistan’s justice sector.

Mr. O’Brien led a delegation of legal and business leaders who traveled to Afghanistan to offer their assistance in bolstering the nation’s criminal and civil legal system. The other members of the delegation were Arent Fox partner and former US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues Pierre-Richard Prosper, US District Judge David O. Carter, Aaron Heck, CEO of HeckArt Studios in Los Angeles and Grey Maggiano, Senior Advisor for the State Department’s INL Afghanistan-Pakistan Program, all of whom are members of the Public-Private Partnership’s Executive Committee.

The delegation’s visit to Kabul coincided with a diplomatic mission to Afghanistan by US Vice President Joe Biden, and a training mission for International Republican Institute led by former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney that also included Public Private Partnership Executive Committee member, Kerry Murphy Healey. The delegation briefed Governor Romney on its rule of law efforts in Afghanistan.

Mr. O’Brien and the delegation met with Afghan Minister of Justice Habibullah Ghalib, Afghan Attorney General Mohammed Ishaq Alako, and the US State Department Coordinating Director of Rule of Law and Law Enforcement Ambassador Hans Klemm, among other officials. Judge Carter led a training class for Afghan counternarcotics judges, to discuss the unique challenges faced by Afghanistan’s judicial system and its officers. The delegation also conducted interviews of 30 Afghan lawyers, who are finalists for 12 scholarships offered by the program to study for an LLM degree at US law schools next year.

“The challenges faced by the Afghan government to create and maintain a system of justice while under the constant threat of violence by radical extremists and in a situation where corruption is pervasive cannot be overestimated,” said Mr. O’Brien upon his return to the United States. “Upon again meeting with representatives of the Afghan government, however, and witnessing first-hand their unyielding dedication and commitment to building a judicial system that is dedicated to the ideals of fairness and equality, I remain hopeful that further progress can be achieved.”

Mr. O’Brien also praised the members of the US military currently serving in Afghanistan. “The success of our mission to create a secure and stable society in Afghanistan, governed by the rule of law, is dependent on the brave efforts of America’s armed forces. As I visited with soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines during our stay in Kabul, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of admiration and gratitude for these courageous men and women who are sacrificing so much to ensure the safety of the American people and our Afghan allies.”

Mr. O’Brien reported on the delegation’s mission and its findings in an article for Afghanistan’s premier national and international news outlet, Ariana-Zaland. His article may be read by clicking here.

In addition to meeting with senior Afghan and American officials to discuss justice reform issues, Mr. Heck, a respected filmmaker, shot footage for a documentary on the Public-Private Partnership’s efforts in Afghanistan.

The Public-Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan is a joint initiative launched in December 2007 by the US State Department and America’s legal community to assist in the development of the rule of law in Afghanistan. The partnership allows law firms to demonstrate their commitment to improving the justice system in Afghanistan by funding projects that promote women’s rights, access to justice, legal aid, professional development, and other important justice-related activities.

More information about the Public-Private Partnership is available at the State Department website.

US District Judge David O. Carter discusses challenges facing the judiciary with judges from the Afghan Counternarcotics Tribunal.

(From left to right) Former US Ambassador Pierre Richard Prosper, US District Judge and Afghan PPP Co-Chair Robert C. O’Brien meet with Afghan Attorney General Mohammed Ishaq Alako.

Public-Private Partnership delegation with US Marshals Special Operations Group at training range for Afghan Marshals.

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