Doctorate Judge at the University

Gerard Lewin will publicly defend his doctoral dissertation (“Ph.D.”) “The appeal to the Appellate Court and to the Supreme Court in civil cases in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba” tomorrow to earn the degree of Doctor at the auditorium of the University of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA).

The last time someone earned his doctoral degree at the UNA Law School was thirty years ago. That was Rudolf Boom in 1980, states Annemarie Marchena of the law school. Consequently, the academic ceremony at UNA in Curacao is a very special one.

Lewin (43 years old) is a judge with the Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. His doctoral dissertation systematically describes inter alia law of cassation procedures applying to Netherlands Antilles and Aruban cases.

The dissertation also contains the report of a study into the limits of the legal battle on appeal. The requirements of due process, as they apply to changes of claim, have a central role in this respect. The dissertation contributes to theories on this topic, which is also of importance to Netherlands law of procedure and is related to, inter alia, the power of the judge to influence the debate between parties, his response obligation and obligation to examine, and his official tasks.

Chairman of the doctoral committee is the President of the UNA, dr. Rupert Silberie. The dean of the Law School, dr. Peter Klik, is a member of the doctoral committee. Prof. dr. F. Kunneman and prof. dr.  A. Hartkamp act as major professors. Squire dr. J. Huydecoper acts as co-supervisor. The other members of the doctoral committee are prof. dr. J. Fokkens, prof. dr. H. De Doelder, dr. B. Mezas, and dr. J. De Boer.

Source: National newspaper “Antilliaans Dagblad” dated 24 February 2010