29 April, 2014
Upon recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Board of Justice determined number of judges in the Supreme Court departments and the chamber as from 1 January 2015: in the Department of Administrative Cases – 9, in the Department of Civil Cases – 15, in the Department of Criminal Cases – 10, in the Chamber of Civil Cases – 13 judges.
The Board of Justice will submit proposal to the Saeima (Parliament) regarding total number of judges in the Supreme Court, providing that as from 1 January 2015 there shall be 48 judges in the Supreme Court – 35 judges of departments, including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and 13 judges of court chambers.
At present, number of judges in the Supreme Court confirmed by the Saeima is 53 judges – 30 in departments and 23 judges – in chambers.
In the result of the first stage of reform of the Supreme Court, liquidating the Chamber of Criminal Cases, it has been planned to strengthen capacity of the Department of Criminal Cases, increasing number of judges in the department from 6 to 10 positions, in the Department of Civil Cases – from 14 to 15 judges. In the result of the second stage of reform, liquidating the Chamber of Civil Cases on 31 December 2016, it has been planned to increase number of judges in the Department of Administrative Cases, and repeatedly assess work load of other departments and number of judges needed.
The issue was reviewed in the sitting of the Board of Justice on April, 28