Public Academy lecture 'Citizen versus government' 8 February 2017

Citizens are frequently confronted with the consequences of government decisions. When exactly do you as a citizen have to deal with the government and what can you do if you disagree with them? These questions will be central during the Public Academy for Jurisprudence on Wednesday 8 February 2017.

Prof. Kars de Graaf, professor of administrative law and sustainability at the University of Groningen, explains how the government should inform and involve citizens in major decisions regarding, for example, a new residential area, ring roads, asylum seeker centers, wind farms and refused permits.

Mr. Fred Bruinenberg, senior administrative law judge at the Northern Netherlands District Court, talks about going to court after a citizen has been confronted with an act or omission of the government. Many citizens will at some point in their lives be confronted with proceedings against the government, such as against a municipality, the UWV or the tax authorities. What does such a procedure entail and from what perspective does the judge view?

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You can attend this Public Academy free of charge. However, registration is required and can be done on the Dagblad van het Noorden site using the link below.

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The Public Academy for Jurisprudence

Through lectures aimed at the general public, the Publieksacademie voor de Rechtspraak (Public Academy for Jurisprudence) seeks to satisfy this immense interest. Judges, public prosecutors, professors and other experts discuss legal topics that affect many people. The lectures are suitable for a wide audience and do not require knowledge of the law.

The Public Academy is a collaboration between the Court of the Northern Netherlands, the Faculty of Law at the University of Groningen, the Northern Netherlands Public Prosecution Service and the Dagblad van het Noorden newspaper.