A group of Americans dedicated to cultivating a respect for the law have visited Bermuda on a head-hunting mission -- to recruit local speakers for a forthcoming conference.

The New York-based Respect for Law Alliance group, a non-profit making organisation, is hoping to stage its annual conference in Bermuda later this year.

It will bring a wide range of speakers to the Island and hopes to recruit local counterparts to take part in the debates.

The group is made up of professionals including judges, lawyers, physicians, accountants, businesspeople and the media.

Its mission statement says it is dedicated towards cultivating respect for the law throughout the US.

The group also aims to inform the public of the roles of judges, jurors, lawyers and law enforcement people in America.

In addition, it tries to enhance the media's understanding about the criminal justice system and to tell the country's youth about the important role the court system plays.

The group will bring about 150 delegates to speak and take part in workshops when it holds its first overseas conference in Bermuda in November.

It is hoped that speakers from the US can be matched by their Bermuda counterparts so people can learn about the systems in both countries.

Joseph Levine, a US Supreme Court judge and spokesman for Respect for Law Alliance, said the purpose of the visit over the last four days was to find a suitable place for the conference and to speak to local people who could take part.

"We've heard that there is a problem with domestic violence in Bermuda as well as New York so we will bring our District Attorney to speak on that,'' said Mr. Levine.

He added: "We will also see how Bermuda copes with its problems compared with somewhere like New York.''