Notre Dame J.S.D. candidates Nicolás Buitrago-Rey and Juan Carlos Gazmuri conduct research on democracy and human rights at the Max Planck Institute | News | The Law School

A woman with dark hair in a beige blazer speaks to a man in a light blue shirt across a table. The man listens intently, gesturing with his hands. A laptop, tablet, and meeting papers are on the table. — *Gazmuri presenting his doctoral research on political parties at the Ibero-American Colloquium at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law*

Nicolás Buitrago-Rey and Juan Carlos Gazmuri, J.S.D. candidates at Notre Dame Law School, conducted research on issues of democracy and international human rights law at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (MPIL) in Heidelberg, Germany, from July 15 to August 29 of this year. Buitrago-Rey and Gazmuri provided legal support regarding Guatemala’s request for an Advisory Opinion on Democracy and Human Rights to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The Kellogg Institute for International Studies, Notre Dame Law School Global Human Rights Clinic, and MPIL sponsored the research visits.

During his stay at the MPIL, Gazmuri conducted research on political organization and democratic resilience and presented his doctoral research at the Ibero-American Colloquium. He stated, "The research stay at the Max Planck Institute was a unique opportunity to interact with researchers from all over the world, many of whom, like me, are working in comparative constitutional law. I am very grateful to those who made this research visit possible."

A young man in a green and gold "IRELAND" sweatshirt smiles, standing with clasped hands before the glass entrance of the Max Planck Institute. — *Buitrago-Rey at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg, Germany*

After Gazmuri’s research visit, Buitrago-Rey, current clinical research assistant and doctoral intern at the Notre Dame Law School Global Human Rights Clinic, went to Heidelberg to complete key research on democracy and freedom of expression. He stated, "Notre Dame Law School and the Kellogg Institute for International Studies have provided us a unique opportunity to engage in questions about democracy and human rights in the Americas. The MPIL Library has unique resources for doctoral students researching international law or comparative constitutional law."

Learn more about Notre Dame Law School's J.S.D. program and current J.S.D. candidates here: law.nd.edu/academics/jsd/current-students/