(E-151/00) August 14, 2000  INTER-AMERICAN JURIDICAL COMMITTEE ELECTS NEW CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN The Inter-American Juridical Committee (CJI) has elected João Grandino Rodas of Brazil as its Chairman, and Brynmor Pollard of Guyana as its Vice Chairman. The jurists were elected at the Juridical Committee's 57th regular meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 12. The two officials will each serve two-year terms. Dr. Grandino Rodas succeeds American jurist Keith Highet who died recently, after two terms in office. Dr. Grandino Rodas was re-elected to regular membership on the Committee in January 1999, for a four-year term that will end in 2003. Dr. Pollard was re-elected to Committee membership during the 30th General Assembly of the Organization of American States, in Windsor, Canada, last June. A specialized arm of the OAS, the Rio de Janeiro-based Juridical Committee is the Organization's advisory body on judicial matters. Its purpose is to promote the progressive development and codification of international law, study juridical problems related to the integration of the member countries, and promote development. ********