Former Michigan Law Fulbright Scholar Named to General Court of the EU

By Kristy Demas
U-M Law

Tamara Perišin, a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Michigan Law School from 2005 to 2006, has been named a judge on the General Court of the European Union. Currently a professor at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Law in Croatia, Perišin looks forward to beginning her appointment on September 1.

"The General Court has a very wide jurisdiction covering state aid, antitrust, intellectual property, environmental cases, sanctions, and other restrictive measures," she said. "It will be exciting to participate in the development of its case law. The forthcoming period will be exceptionally interesting as the undergoing reform of the court creates new opportunities for enhancing the quality of judicial decision-making and access to justice in the EU. I will be very glad to contribute."

The European Union's Court of Justice is comprised of the Court of Justice-where Michigan Law alumnus Siniša Rodin was appointed in 2013-and the General Court, which is considered the court of first instance. Most of the decisions undertaken by the European Commission and other EU institutions fall under the General Court's purview.

Perišin considers her time at Michigan Law-studying the free movement of goods in the EU, United States, and the World Trade Organization-to have played a crucial role in her academic, professional, and personal development. "Since then, Professors Don Regan and Daniel Halberstam have continued to influence my reasoning and my academic interests, and they have become my friends in this process of academic exchange. In general, the University of Michigan Law School presents a very stimulating and warm academic environment not only due to its superb faculty, but also due to excellently selected students."

Perišin holds the Jean Monnet Chair at the Zagreb Faculty of Law, where she serves as the academic coordinator of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, which focuses on the EU's global leadership in the rule of law. Her teaching and research focus on EU internal markets, the division of power between levels and branches of government, constitutionalism, and international trade. Most recently, her academic interests have involved applying critical legal studies methodology to the role of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Published: Fri, Jul 26, 2019