Neil Bjorkman, a third-year University of Wisconsin Law School student who is researching Indian law with Professor Marc Galanter, has been chosen to be a clerk by Justice Dalveer Bhandari of the Supreme Court of India.

Justice Bhandari, who recently joined the Supreme Court after a distinguished career as a Justice and Chief Justice at the High Court level, has offered Bjorkman a 12-month clerkship.

The connection between the UW Law School and the Supreme Court of India began about 36 years ago, when Professor Marc Galanter taught Bhandari in a summer school course for Indian graduate students. Galanter, for whom Indian law is one of several areas of expertise, is the Law School’s John & Rylla Bosshard Emeritus Professor of South Asian Law.

Galanter comments, "Justice Bhandari and I have known each other for over thirty years. It is fortuitous that this is happening just when Professor Mitra Sharafi will arrive this fall to augment our unique strength in South Asian law, and when interest in India is mounting in the American legal academy."

Bjorkman elaborates, "I have been working with Professor Galanter on his India-related research, and this research has opened my eyes to some of the differences and similarities between our legal systems. I don’t think I could have received a better introduction to Indian law. I very much look forward to clerking for Justice Bhandari."

Galanter adds, "This is a wonderful opportunity for Neil and for the Law School too."

For more information on Justice Bhandari, see http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/sitting/db.htm .

Submitted by on March 5, 2007

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