ICON-S CEE 2026 Ljubljana Conference

ICON-S International Society for Public Law Central and Eastern European Chapter

Annual Conference

University of Ljubljana Faculty of Law

14-15 May 2026

CONSTITUTIONAL

COURTS x SCHOLARSHIP

IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law www.pf.uni-lj.si

Institute for Comparative Law at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana www.ipp-pf.si

Slovenian Constitutional Law Association www.dups.ustava.si

ICON-S CEE Chapter  www.icon-society.org/central-and-eastern-europe/

The was established in April 2018. Its mission is to promote the values of the International Society of Public Law and, in particular, its commitment to an interdisciplinary approach to public law that engages constitutional, European, administrative, and international law scholars and practitioners so as to better understand global and transnational legal developments. It endeavors to create a space for Central and Eastern European legal scholarship to grow and enter into a global dialogue.

Associate Professor Samo Bardutzky (University of Ljubljana), Professor Djordje Gardašević (University of Zagreb), Dr Gloria Golmohammadi (University of Stockholm/University of Ljubljana), Associate Professor Barbara Havelková (University of Oxford), Assistant Professor Marjan Kos (University of Ljubljana), Kristina Krajnc (University of Ljubljana), Mojca Mauhler (University of Ljubljana), Professor Anna Śledzińska-Simon (University of Wroclaw), Professor Silvia Suteu (European University Institute), Associate Professor Tilen Štajnpihler Božič (University of Ljubljana)

The theme of the CEE Chapter’s 2026 conference brings together two elements. First, it touches upon constitutional courts, institutions that is frequently researched and studied as well as a phenomenon characteristic of the region and a part of its story of post-authoritarian, legal constitutionalism(s). The second element of the conference theme is public law or constitutional scholarship - a social institution that is present, influential and impactful in this part of Europe, but rarely itself the object of academic attention.

Our ambition is to interconnect the two elements in several different ways. This is what the ‘x’ in the title of the conference stands for: in an American address, it can mean “at the intersection of”; in a French textbook, it would read “multiplié par”; and at the end of a text message, it can even be a kiss.  

As for the convenors, we will try to connect the two elements through a string of three plenary events, linked together by the emphasis on Central and Eastern Europe and focus on constitutional adjudication and constitutional scholarship. The three plenary events will tell stories of three roles that often interconnect in their search for a meaning:

‘What does it mean to be a constitutional court judge in CEE?’

Keynote discussion among constitutional court judges or former judges from the region with different ties to the legal academia: Professor Jiří Přibáň (Czech Constitutional Court/Cardiff), Dr Goran Selanec (Croatian Constitutional Court/Zagreb), Professor Katja Šugman Stubbs (Slovenian Constitutional Court/Ljubljana)

‘What does it mean to be a public law scholar in CEE?’

Distinguished speaker address by Professor Tanasije Marinković (University of Belgrade), member of the 2025 Citizens’ Inquiry Committee

‘What does it mean to be an intellectual in CEE?’

Plenary discussion with Professor Renata Salecl (University of Ljubljana), Luka Lisjak Gabrijelčič (CEU), Kristina Krajnc (University of Ljubljana)

In addition, the conference will feature a special workshop for junior scholars PhDs Anonymous: How to build and maintain a productive and healthy relationship with your supervisor and a plenary book launch for Constitutionalism and Its Discontents by Bojan Bugarič and Mark Tushnet (University of Chicago Press).

A call for abstracts will be published in December 2025, inviting you to help us explore the central theme of the conference and to present on topics broadly linked to the two elements of the conference theme or the intersection thereof. Please check our website.

Conference will be held in person in Ljubljana. No participation fee will be charged. Participants bear their own travel, accommodation and other expenses.

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law https://www.pf.uni-lj.si/en/faculty/basic-information

ICON-S CEE Chapter  www.icon-society.org/central-and-eastern-europe/

Ljubljana https://www.ljubljana.info/

E-mail address: icon-s-cee-2026-ljubljana@pf.uni-lj.si