26 October, 2017
Today, on October 26, by the judgment of the Constitutional Court, in the case on the system of judges' remuneration, which was initiated following the application of the Council for the Judiciary, it is established that the provisions, stipulating that judge’s monthly salary is determined by linking it to salary of highly qualified lawyer of direct public administration institution with an appropriate wage rate, are not in conformity with the Sections 83 and 107 of the Constitution.
The Constitutional Court has recognized that the system of judges’ remuneration established by the contested provisions does not ensure the actual value of the remuneration of judges, which would guarantee their financial security, as well as the protection of the actual value of the remuneration of judges. The linking of judges' remuneration stipulated in the contested provisions does not ensure the conformity of the remuneration of judges with the requirements arising from the principle of the independence of judges.
The contested provisions have been declared invalid by the Constitutional Court from 1 January 2019.
While appreciating the judgment of the Constitutional Court, Ivars Bickovics, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Chair of the Council for the Judiciary, expects that the legislator will develop a system of judges’ remuneration that meets requirements of Section 83 of the Constitution.
Judgment of the Constitutional Court in case No 2016-31-01
Information prepared by
Rasma Zvejniece, the Head of the Division of Communication of the Supreme Court
E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: +371 67020396, +371 28652211