World Jurist Association
The World Jurist Association is an international non-governmental organization that promotes the rule of law through cooperation among legal professionals, public institutions, and civil society.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The World Jurist Association (WJA) is a United States-based international non-governmental organization dedicated to strengthening the rule of law and the institutions that support it. Its work is built around cooperation among judges, lawyers, legal academics, public officials, and other members of the legal community. The association describes law as a foundation for stable peace, human dignity, liberty, and the resolution of conflict without violence. The organization was established in 1963 at the first World Law Congress in Athens, Greece. It was originally known as the World Peace Through Law Center, a name that reflected its founding purpose: to provide a free and open international forum where legal professionals could collaborate on the development and protection of legal institutions. American lawyer Charles S. Rhyne served as its founding president, while former United States Chief Justice Earl Warren was a co-founder. The organization later adopted the World Jurist Association name, with the earlier entity absorbed into the association. The WJA's principal public activity is the World Law Congress, an international gathering that brings together jurists, political leaders, judges, academics, and representatives of institutions concerned with democracy and constitutional government. The congress has been held since 1963, generally on a biennial basis, although the schedule has not been continuous in every period. Recent editions have taken place in Madrid in 2019, New York City in 2023, and Santo Domingo in 2025. Congress themes have included the relationship between constitutions and democracy, the rule of law in parliamentary systems, and the use of law as an instrument for peace. The association also recognizes individuals and communities through awards and medals. Its highest distinction is the World Peace & Liberty Award, which has been given to figures including Winston Churchill, René Cassin, Nelson Mandela, Luis Almagro Lemes, King Felipe VI of Spain, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Andrew Young, Ursula von der Leyen, and Sonia Sotomayor. In 2021, the WJA introduced the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medal to honor prominent women jurists, reflecting a stated effort to recognize contributions that have historically received insufficient attention. The association also presents WJA Medals of Honor. The WJA has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Its membership and events provide a platform for discussion of legal systems, constitutionalism, democratic resilience, human rights, and institutional responses to political and social instability. The association's operating model is convening and recognition rather than commercial product distribution: it organizes congresses, publishes or supports legal-policy communications, and promotes professional cooperation across jurisdictions. Javier Cremades became president in February 2019 and was identified as president as of January 2025. The World Law Foundation, established during the 2019 World Law Congress and based in Madrid, serves as the WJA's executive branch. The association remains an active international rule-of-law organization, although detailed current information about its membership, staffing, finances, and operating structure is not established in the supplied reference material.
History
The World Jurist Association emerged from the international legal community's postwar interest in using law and legal institutions to support peace. In 1963, judges, lawyers, legal scholars, and other jurists established the World Peace Through Law Center at the first World Law Congress in Athens, Greece. The meeting was chaired by Charles S. Rhyne, who became the organization's founding president. Earl Warren, then a prominent American jurist and former governor of California, was a co-founder. The founding institution was intended to provide an open international forum in which legal professionals could exchange ideas and cooperate on strengthening the rule of law. Its underlying premise was that stable peace could be supported through legal mechanisms rather than force alone. This mission connected international legal cooperation with the protection of liberty, human dignity, and institutional accountability. The organization developed the World Law Congress as its principal recurring gathering. The congress has been convened since 1963 in different countries and has generally followed a biennial pattern, although some scheduled continuity was lost after 2005. Its subjects have reflected major debates about constitutionalism, democracy, legal institutions, and international peace. The 2019 congress in Madrid examined the relationship among constitutions, democracy, and liberty. Later congresses were held in New York City in 2023 and Santo Domingo in 2025. Over time, the World Peace Through Law Center became incorporated into and represented by the World Jurist Association. The association also maintained a publication tradition: its bulletin had been issued since the founding year, and by 2000 it was titled The World Jurist: Bulletin of the World Jurist Association of the World Peace through Law Center. Historical governance records identify Ved P. Nanda, Lucio Ghia, and Raul G. Goco among the organization's presidents before 2000, with these figures later described as honorary presidents. Daniel J. Monaco was president in 2000. Charles S. Rhyne continued to be recognized as honorary life president, while other honorary presidents included Itzhak Nener and Mohammed L. Uwais. The WJA's institutional role extends beyond conferences. It has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, allowing it to participate within the broader ecosystem of international civil-society organizations. Its activities emphasize cooperation among members and congress participants, with a focus on legal knowledge, constitutional government, freedom, and the prevention of disorder and violence. The association's stated analysis also recognizes that threats to legal stability may originate within states, including from disruptive actors or public authorities. In February 2019, Spanish lawyer Javier Cremades became president, the first Spaniard to occupy the office. The World Law Foundation was established during the 2019 World Law Congress in Madrid and is based there; it functions as the executive branch associated with the WJA. Cremades was identified as president of both organizations in the supplied reference material. Recognition has become another important part of the WJA's public identity. The World Peace & Liberty Award, described as the association's highest honor, has been awarded selectively since the organization's early years. Recipients have included Winston Churchill, René Cassin, Nelson Mandela, Luis Almagro Lemes, King Felipe VI of Spain, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Colombian society, Andrew Young, Ursula von der Leyen, and Sonia Sotomayor. The association began awarding the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medal in 2021 to highlight prominent women jurists, and it has also presented WJA Medals of Honor since 2019. Today, the World Jurist Association operates as an international rule-of-law and legal-cooperation organization rather than as a conventional commercial brand. Its principal channels are professional membership, international congresses, institutional partnerships, publications, and awards. Publicly available reference information establishes its mission and major events, but does not provide a complete current account of its membership size, staffing, finances, or detailed country-by-country operations.
- 2025
World Law Congress held in Santo Domingo
[1]The 2025 congress took place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in May, and Sonia Sotomayor received the World Peace & Liberty Award.
- 2023
World Law Congress convened in New York City
[1]The association held a World Law Congress in New York City and presented World Peace & Liberty Awards to Andrew Young and Ursula von der Leyen.
- 2021
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medal launched
[1]The WJA began presenting a medal named for Ruth Bader Ginsburg to recognize prominent women jurists.
- 2019
Madrid World Law Congress and organizational transition
[1]The congress met in Madrid under a constitution, democracy, and liberty theme; the World Law Foundation was established as the WJA's executive branch, and Javier Cremades became president.
- 2000
Bulletin adopts the World Jurist title
[1]The organization's bulletin was identified as The World Jurist: Bulletin of the World Jurist Association of the World Peace Through Law Center.
- 1963
World Peace Through Law Center established
[1]The organization was founded at the first World Law Congress in Athens, with Charles S. Rhyne as founding president and Earl Warren as a co-founder.
Products and positioning
An international, non-governmental convening organization positioned around the idea that durable peace and human dignity depend on strong legal institutions, constitutional government, and cooperation among jurists.
International legal congress · 1963
World Law Congress
The WJA's principal international convening platform brings together jurists, judges, lawyers, academics, political leaders, and institutional representatives. Congresses address constitutionalism, democracy, liberty, legal institutions, and peace through law, and are held in different countries rather than at a permanent venue.
Institutional award · 1964
World Peace & Liberty Award
Described as the WJA's highest honor, this award is presented selectively to individuals or, in some instances, a society recognized for contributions to peace, liberty, jurisprudence, democratic institutions, or the rule of law.
Professional medal · 2021
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medal
Introduced in 2021, the medal honors prominent women jurists. Its stated purpose is to improve recognition of female contributions to jurisprudence and legal institutions, which the association says have often been overlooked.
Institutional medal · 2019
WJA Medal of Honor
The WJA Medal of Honor is another recognition presented by the association. Reference material identifies the award as existing since 2019 but does not provide a complete recipient list or detailed selection criteria.
Bulletin · 1963
The World Jurist
The association's bulletin has been published since the organization's founding period. By 2000 it was identified as The World Jurist: Bulletin of the World Jurist Association of the World Peace Through Law Center.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019World Law Congress Madrid
Spain · International
The Madrid congress presented the theme “Constitution, Democracy and Liberty” and used panels and institutional participation to examine constitutional democracy, parliamentary monarchies, and law-based approaches to peace.
Outcome. The congress became the setting for the establishment of the World Law Foundation and the presentation of the World Peace & Liberty Award to King Felipe VI.
Brand decisions
2021
Launch the Ruth Bader Ginsburg MedalProduct launchBackground
The association identified a need to give greater visibility to prominent women jurists.
Action taken
The WJA introduced a medal named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Aftermath
The medal has been presented to multiple recipients in subsequent years, according to the supplied reference material.
2019
Establish the World Law Foundation as executive branchStrategyBackground
The WJA sought an executive structure associated with its international congress and continuing rule-of-law activities.
Action taken
The World Law Foundation was established during the Madrid World Law Congress and based in Madrid.
Aftermath
The foundation serves as the executive branch of the WJA.
1963
Create an international rule-of-law forumStrategyBackground
Legal professionals sought a free and open setting for cooperation on strengthening legal institutions and using law to support peace.
Action taken
The World Peace Through Law Center was established at the first World Law Congress in Athens.
Aftermath
The organization developed into the World Jurist Association and continued its work through congresses, publications, professional cooperation, and awards.
Recent events
- 2025
World Law Congress held in Santo Domingo[1]
Other
The World Law Congress took place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in May 2025.
- 2025
Sonia Sotomayor receives the World Peace & Liberty Award[1]
Other
The WJA awarded its World Peace & Liberty Award to United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor for her judicial work and commitment to applying the law under difficult circumstances.
- 2023
World Law Congress held in New York City[1]
Other
The WJA convened its World Law Congress in New York City.
- 2023
World Peace & Liberty Awards presented to Andrew Young and Ursula von der Leyen[1]
Other
The association presented its World Peace & Liberty Award to American civil-rights leader and politician Andrew Young and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
- 2021
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medal introduced[1]
Product launch
The association introduced a medal named for Ruth Bader Ginsburg to recognize prominent women jurists.
- 2020
Ruth Bader Ginsburg receives the World Peace & Liberty Award[1]
Other
The WJA awarded its World Peace & Liberty Award to United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
- 2019
World Law Congress held in Madrid[1]
Other · Campaign
The WJA held its World Law Congress in Madrid under the theme “Constitution, Democracy and Liberty,” addressing constitutional government, democratic institutions, and peace through law.
- 2019
Javier Cremades elected president[1]
Leadership change
Spanish lawyer Javier Cremades was elected president of the World Jurist Association in February 2019, becoming the first Spaniard to hold the position.
Sources2 sources
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