User:ELCJHL2024/sandbox

Scarlet Bishara (Arabic: سكارلت بشارة) is the first female judge in the Ecclesiastical Court of First Instance of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). She obtained her postgraduate education at the Beirut Arab University (BAU), where she earned a legal degree. She underwent two years of legal training, after which she practiced law independently for a period of five years. During this time, she gained valuable experience in the Sharia’ Courts, as well as Catholic and Orthodox Family courts. She then served as a legal advisor at a shelter for abused women (Mehwar Center). Her contributions were instrumental in the development and implementation of the reformed Personal Status Law of the ELCJHL. As a result of her dedication and expertise, she was later appointed as a judge at the Lutheran Court of First Instance.

Judge Scarlet currently serves as the legal advisor for the Bethlehem governor. Her main areas of focus include gender justice and women and family issues. In this capacity, she diligently oversees cases related to violence against women and children. Additionally, she is an esteemed member of several committees, including  the Women’s Protection Team in Bethlehem, the National Referral System for Women Victims of Violence, the Advisory Committee for the Protection Centers System (Safety Houses), and the Legal Aid Project for Abused Women in Ecclesiastical Courts.

Judge Scarlet is a passionate advocate for women’s rights and has published multiple studies analyzing women’s rights from a legal perspective. She is also an accomplished public speaker, having participated in various lectures. Her expertise has been recognized on a global scale, as she has represented both the ELCJHL and the Lutheran World Federation at international conferences on gender justice, including those held at the United Nations.