Fort Worth, TX — The Congressional Office for International Leadership, an agency of the U.S. Congress, will send a delegation of judges from Serbia to Fort Worth from Sept. 9-17, 2022, through the Open World program. The delegation consists of five professionals who will be accompanied by a bicultural facilitator and an interpreter. While in Fort Worth, the COIL program participants will be hosted by Fort Worth Sister Cities International.

Prior to their arrival in Fort Worth the participants will complete an orientation in Washington, D.C.

In Fort Worth, delegates will collaborate on best practices for rule of law and criminal proceedings with local leaders in Fort Worth including Judge Mark Pittman, Judge Jeff Cureton, Judge Robb Catalano, and Chief Justice Bonnie Sudderth. Activities include visits to the U.S. District Court, Criminal District Court No. 3, the Second Court of Appeals, the District Attorney’s office, and the Texas A&M University School of Law. The delegation will stay in the homes of Fort Worth residents who serve as hospitality hosts.

More than 28,000 current and future leaders from post-Soviet era countries have participated in the Open World program. Open World offers one of the most effective U.S. exchange programs to promote mutually beneficial options for depolarized engagement between future national leaders.

Founded in 1999 by Congress, COIL maintains a vast network of more than 28,000 alumni in strategic countries including Russia, Ukraine, and others in the Balkans, Caucuses, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Open World supports legislative diplomacy efforts for Members of Congress by conducting exchanges that establish lasting professional relationships between emerging leaders and their U.S. counterparts. Program participants are provided with extensive exposure to American politics, accountable governance, and citizen diplomacy, while being home hosted by American families. To learn more about Open World, please visit www.openworld.gov/.