27 September, 2011
Regulation of candidate selection competition for the post of judges of the Supreme Court is approved; regulation for selection of other candidates for post of judges of other courts has been prepared yet
Candidates for the post of judge of the Supreme Court will be elected in open competition in future. It has been provided by amendments to the law “On Judicial Power” and regulation of open candidate selection competition for the post of the judge of the Supreme Court approved in session of the Board of Justice on the 27th of September.
The Board of Justice has also discussed regulation of selection of candidates for the post of judges of district (city) courts, land-book departments and regional courts, but it is not approved yet. The Ministry of Justice will specify the regulation, taking into account recommendations given by the Board of Justice.
According to amendments to the law “On Judicial Power”, adopted on the 9th of June, 2011, selection of candidates for the post of a judge in district (city) courts and departments of land-books, as well as in regional courts and the Supreme Court is made in open competition of candidates. Competition regulation is ratified by the Board of Justice according to proposal of the Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Decisions of the Board of Justice related to issues of career of judges
The Board of Justice in its session on the 27th of September, according to request of the Minister of Justice prolonged being in post of Regina Knabe, the judge of Zemgales regional court until the 12th of October, 2013.
Regina Knabe has worked as a judge since 1994, and she has been a judge of Zemgales regional court since 1997. In 2002 she was instructed to execute duties of the Chair of Judicial Panel of Civil Cases of Zemgales regional court. However, in 2010 she was appointed to the post of the Chair of Judicial Panel of Civil cases of Zemgales regional court, the deputy of the Chair of Zemgales regional court.
The maximum age of execution of duties established in the law “On Judicial Power” is 65 years for the judge of regional court. The Board of Justice, having received positive resolution of Judicial Qualifications Committee, may prolong being in post of the judge of regional court for the term that may not exceed two years.
However, on the 30th of August the Board of Justice decided in written proceedings to instruct Kristine Vanaga, the judge of the court of Ziemelu district of Riga city, to execute duties of the judge of the Tukuma district court for the term of temporary absence of the judge.
Information prepared by
Head of the Division of Communications of the Supreme Court Rasma Zvejniece
E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 67020396, 28652211