To broaden the international perspectives of judicial trainees, the Judges Academy continues to organize international exchange activities. This time, Professor Alida Merlo from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA, was invited to deliver a lecture at the Academy and engage in discussions with the 66th class of judicial trainees.

Professor Alida Merlo earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from Fordham University and has been teaching at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) since 1995. Her research focuses on juvenile justice, criminal justice policy, and women and the law.

Professor Alida Merlo’s lecture was titled “Understanding and Assessing the Prosecutor's Role in Juvenile Justice in the U.S.” In her talk, she introduced the historical development of juvenile justice practices in the United States, summarized key U.S. Supreme Court rulings, and discussed the roles played by judges and prosecutors within the juvenile justice system. She also offered insightful observations and analyses on the evolution of juvenile justice policies in recent decades, as well as the emerging issues that warrant future attention. Her lecture was highly informative and greatly benefited the trainees.

After the lecture, President Hsun-Lung Wu invited Professor Alida Merlo to visit the Academy’s mock courtroom, history room, and library. They also exchanged views on topics such as the current operation of Taiwan’s judicial training system and the differences between Taiwan and the United States in the appointment and training of judicial officers. President Wu expressed hope for further collaboration and deeper exchanges in the future.