ABSTRACT
A judiciary consistent with democratic values must also establish a functioning court system. Court clerks and court reporters must be well-trained and paid sufficient salaries so that they are not subject to intimidation or corruption. The courts must develop systems that provide for retrieval of information, regular and consistent court sessions, standardized rules of procedure, and education of citizens as to their legal rights. A judicial system must exist, therefore, not only in theory, but in practice. Once there is a meaningful judicial system in place, such system furthers the democratic process by demonstrating to its citizens that all persons can have access to the legal system and can obtain a fair and expeditious hearing. An independent judiciary also enforces and reinforces the rule of law. In a society so long subjected to abuses of power and corruption as Haiti, the rule of law must be the centerpiece for democratic rule.
