In 2021 the Venice Commission published a critical report on the rule of law in The Netherlands. Although perceived to be highly developed, there are inherent weaknesses that can be exploited politically. Professor Soeharno will set out the latest developments: What forms of pressure from politics – notably from the executive – does one see or expect? How vulnerable is the independence of the Dutch judiciary? How are judges coping with political pressure? And last but not least: what should be done to improve the situation?
Prof. Jonathan Soeharno
Prof. dr. mr. Jonathan Soeharno is full professor of administration of justice and legal philosophy at the University of Amsterdam. He holds degrees in law (PhD, LLM, LLB), theology (MA, BA) and philosophy (MA, BA) and has noted expertise on the rule of law, ethics and integrity. Soeharno is also practicing lawyer (Of Counsel), deputy judge at the Court of Appeal ‘s-Hertogenbosch (commerce chamber) and a former Senator of the State of The Netherlands. Among others, he is the author of The Integrity of the Judge (Ashgate 2009), Introduction to Logic for Lawyers (2021) and The Value of the Oath (2020). Soeharno has worked on rule of law projects involving the judiciary and lawyers in, among others, Ukraine, Russia, Suriname, Curacao and Indonesia.