A First in Rwanda

1. Scott in the first plea bargain session. 2. A thank you tweet from the Chief Jusitce of the Rwandan Supreme Court . 3. My attempts to keep things light from Uganda via text while Scotts's doing the heavy lifting. (Malala is our 5 year old Pakistani neighbor who likes to make music just outside our window)

Two months ago, Scott took part in the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Judiciary of Rwanda and Pepperdine University’s Sudreau Global Justice Institute, to roll out plea bargaining in Rwanda.

Over the past several weeks, the Pepperdine team has worked tirelessly with key Rwandan stakeholders to tackle the countless issues which needed to be addressed before actual plea bargaining would begin. Plea bargaining is a critical new tool for judicial partners to use to help ease prison overcrowding and speed up the resolution of cases in the Rwandan judicial system.

During this time, thanks to ZOOM, everyone worked together, toward the actual program launch. Technology made so much possible. Just a month ago, as I drove through Michigan to the Detroit airport, Scott was in the passenger seat, on a ZOOM call with the Pepperdine team in L.A. and key stakeholders of the judiciary, in Rwanda. I’m driving through mid-west farm land and members of the Rwandan Supreme Court are talking strategy, obstacles, opportunities and next steps. It truly felt surreal.

Last week, Scott was on the ground again in Rwanda and worked with the Rwandan and Pepperdine team for four days of more introductions, training, and role playing with judges, magistrates and lawyers for the defense and the prosecution as well as inmates, to introduce this new concept.

Then this last Wednesday, the first official plea bargaining case was resolved in a Rwandan courtroom.

Thomas was willing to plead guilty as charged but when he finally saw an attorney that day (for the first time), it was determined that he had already overstayed his sentence – so just hours later, he was released to go home to his family. (See the video below.)

In addition to Thomas’ legal resolution, 25 more cases were resolved that day. Just the first of many as the Rwandan Judiciary is anxious to learn from this launch and roll out plea bargaining across the country.

Please pray for wisdom, next steps, capacity building and especially for Thomas as he rebuilds his life.