European Society for Comparative Legal History: Meeting with President Bronislaw Komorowski

We also had the opportunity to hear from President Bronislaw Komorowski.

A leading journalist led a Q&A Discussion that was interesting and wide-ranging.  Topics included a discussion of Brexit -- and its implications for the European project and for the safety and security of the region. 

It was President Komorowski who arranged for the upcoming NATO Summit to be held in Warsaw, in the same room in which the Warsaw Pact was signed.  He discussed the need for further reinforcement of the Eastern flank.

(At the NATO Summit in Warsaw that took place after we departed, President Obama announced that the US would send 1,000 additional troops to be stationed in Poland to bolster the Eastern flank of NATO.)

The President was also asked to comment on the refugee crisis. During his response he appealed to the conscience of Catholics, imploring audience to "save our Polish soul, so we are not soulless persons who do not care for others" (again, this was through a translator)

with President Bronislaw Komorowski

with one of the fabulous conference organizers, Prof. Maria Lewandowicz

on our walk to the philharmonic

after meeting with President Komorowski, we enjoyed a lovely concert and dinner at the Philharmonic

European Society for Comparative Legal History, Lawyers Debate:Alternative Dispute Resolution, and arrival in Gdansk

After the registration and check-in at the Solidarity Center, some of us traveled by bus to the University of Gdansk law school for the Lawyer's Debate

"Litigation or Out of Court Methods of Dispute Resolution? Different Regulations and Different Habits in Various Legal Cultures and the Polish Attitude"

(in Polish, with English translation)

I learned that only about 4% of economic cases are handled out of court in Poland -- that's roughly the percentage of cases that DO go to court in the US -- where more than 90% off our criminal cases are plea bargained and more than 90% of our civil cases are settled.

Our courts would shut down if we had only 4% of our cases settled out of court.

Interestingly one of the speakers mentioned American "experts" - in particular, a law professor from Florida (of all places) - who came to train Polish lawyers in methods of out-of-court settlements. However, this American legal professional knew nothing of Polish culture, history, politics -- and was, in the speaker's opinion -- not effective in translating American legal norms to the Polish context.

Apparently there is a Polish cult classic that I should watch -- Sami Swoi -- to learn more about Polish folklore.  There is a scene in which neighbors resolve a conflict with a handshake, over the fence.

preview for Sami Swoi 

Sami Swoi with English subtitles

Interesting discussion among the panelists (and audience members) regarding the Polish Civil Code and its allowances for arbitration and instruction about alternative dispute resolution in the law school curriculum.

The University of Gdansk law school

the view from my hotel room at the Hotel Gdansk

turns out my hotel also had only microbrewery in Gdansk

after being up and traveling for more than 30 hours, the dinner at the hotel was most satisfying

the view from my room after I returned from dinner

European Society for Comparative Legal History conference 2016, European Center of Solidarity

I recently participated in the European Society for Comparative Legal History Conference 2016 in Gdansk, Poland.

This was a robust 4-day conference that included plenary sessions and panels and debates and dinners and a concert and meetings with judges and lawyers and presidents of Poland -- programming from 8:00 AM until after 11:00 PM. And each day the conference was held in a different venue/town so that we could see and experience more of the region while we were there. It was truly exceptional.

I was also very much looking forward to visiting the European Center of Solidarity when traveling to Gdansk for the conference. I wanted to see the famous shipyard gate and learn more about the birthplace of the Solidarity movement.  

I was delighted that -- after taking 3 planes to get to Gdansk -- after traveling 27 hours -- I dropped off my suitcase at the hotel -- and then went straight to the Solidarity museum to check in and register for the conference.  

After I got my credential and my program and other conference materials, I had time to explore the exhibits before heading off on a van to participate in the Lawyers Debate at the Law School of the University of Gdansk.

Below are some pictures of the museums and exhibits.

You can learn more about the museum and its research library here:

http://www.ecs.gda.pl/title,Jezyk,pid,2,lang,2.html

The museum itself was impressive.  This is the atrium that divides the research library from the permanent exhibits

this is the monument to Shipyard Workers -- built a few months after the famous strike in 1980 and the creation of the independent Solidarity trade union -- in honor of the shipyard workers who were killed during the strike and demonstrations in  1970

This jacket, from a 20-year old shipbuilder, shows the bullet hole from the lethal shot that killed him

On this wall, with the Solidarity logo, are white and red cards where visitors can leave messages with their thoughts about the museum and the movement

while on this military police vehicle you can watch a video of  of demonstrators being attacked -- it was a very moving experience

Gdansk -- Church of St Mary

The Church of St. Mary is often referred to as the largest brick church in the world.  When I read that you can climb 405 stairs to see panoramic views of Gdansk -- I thought this was not something to miss.

It was a good thing that I went back to hotel after the conference to change out of heels and suit before making the trek up the stairs (!)

About  95% of Gdansk was destroyed by the end of World War II -- and, sadly, that included this cathedral.  However, it was rebuilt.  And I am glad that I was able to see this beautiful church before leaving Gdansk.

the pulpit notes 966, the year Christianity was introduced in Poland

Gdansk -- the Post Office Museum

The first shots of World War II were fired in Gdansk (the Free City of Danzig (in German), an independent city-state following WWI, per the Treaty of Versailles)

As my tour guide stated, "The Polish Post Office was the scene of some of the most dramatic events of the first days of World War II. At  daybreak on 1 September 1939, German troops attacked the Polish Postal Administration that had its base here....For 15 hours the postal workers resisted the onslaught, but they were finally overwhelmed. On 5 October more than 30 of them were executed by Nazi soldiers...Their heroism is commemorated in the Post Office Museum and by a monument depicting an injured postal worker atop scattered mail, handing over his rifle to Nike, Greek goddess of victory..."

a construction crew found a mass grave that was identified as the grave of the postal workers (in the early 1990s)...here are some of the effects found in that mass grave

there is a working post office in the building that houses the postal museum ... I wanted to bring back some of these Disney Polish collector stamps...but it turns out they are not out yet