St Antony’s students present award-winning justice research at Council of Europe

St Antony’s College students Matheus Mendes and Ben Wardlow travelled to Šibenik, Croatia, to represent the University of Oxford Law Faculty at the 46th Plenary Meeting of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), the Council of Europe’s body dedicated to improving the quality and efficiency of justice across Europe. The invitation followed the Oxford team’s success in the 2026 Junior Crystal Scales of Justice Prize, an academic competition on innovative justice projects.

As members of the six-student Oxford team, Matheus and Ben presented their legal analysis of the Support Centre for Conservatorship, a Belgian initiative that brings together judges, lawyers, healthcare professionals, and social services to improve the practical operation of conservatorship.

During the plenary meeting, the Oxford team received the Junior Crystal Scales of Justice Prize from Mr Justice Francesco Depasquale, President of the CEPEJ, before presenting their work to representatives of European judiciaries, ministries of justice, and international organisations.

Beyond the award ceremony, Matheus and Ben took part in the wider activities of the CEPEJ plenary, attending discussions with government officials and justice experts on the future of European justice. The meeting focused on practical reforms to make courts more efficient, accessible, and responsive, including the use of artificial intelligence, cyberjustice, judicial evaluation, and measures to reduce delays in legal proceedings.

Reflecting on the trip, Ben said:

‘One of the most rewarding aspects of the experience was seeing judges, policymakers, and judicial authorities from across Europe and beyond engage so seriously with our research. We had the opportunity to engage in in-depth conversations about how these ideas could be adapted and implemented in different contexts for the benefit of society.’

Matheus added:

‘Opportunities like this demonstrate how academic research can inform judicial reform, and vice versa. As postgraduate law students, we do not often have the chance to exchange ideas directly with those shaping justice systems across Europe. It was a privilege to represent both St Antony’s College and the Oxford Law Faculty on such an important international stage.’