To be honest, Kazakhstan was not on my bucket list. Nonetheless, when I was presented with the opportunity to speak on the subject of judicial independence at a meeting with the country’s prime minister, I was intrigued.
The opportunity arose from a combination of circumstances, not the least of which was the prime minister’s desire to improve the investment climate for Western companies by bolstering their confidence in the fairness and impartiality of Kazakhstan’s judges. The American Chamber of Commerce organized the conference to include several ambassadors, distinguished jurists and a U.S. lawyer who had practiced in the federal courts and was familiar with the process for the selection of federal judges. I filled the latter spot, likely not so much a result of my credentials, but because my partner, Ken Mack, is the current head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan.
