29 June, 2022
From June 27 to 28, Aigars Strupišs, the Chair of the Judicial Council and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Solvita Harbaceviča, Adviser to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on the Judicial Council issues, Alla Spale, Head of the Secretariat of the Judicial Council, Sandra Lapiņa, Head of the Administration of the Supreme Court, and Dārta Eglīte, Assistant to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, visited Lithuanian Judicial Council and the National Courts Administration. During the visit, important issues of the judicial system and the independence of judges were discussed.
The Latvian delegation was introduced to the competence and functions of the Judicial Council of Lithuania and the National Courts Administration, as well as to the topicalities and problematic issues of the operation of these institutions. The Lithuanian colleagues pointed out that the Judicial Council of Lithuania plays an important role in ensuring the independence of judges and courts administration. The Judicial Council of Lithuania consists of 17 judges. The Judicial Council of Lithuania operates in close interaction with the National Courts Administration, which is an institution independent of the executive branch. The purpose of its activity is to ensure the work of the courts, strengthen the independence of the judicial system and improve the working conditions of the courts.
Aigars Strupišs, the Chair of the Judicial Council of Latvia, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, introduced the Lithuanian colleagues to the legal status and lines of activity of the Latvian Judicial Council. Aigars Strupišs drew attention to the fact that the administrative work of district (city) courts and regional courts in Latvia is organized and ensured by the Court Administration, which is an executive body, while in the Supreme Court this function is carried out by the Supreme Court Administration.
Within the framework of the meeting, the role of the Lithuanian Judicial Council in the judicial budgeting process was also discussed. The National Courts Administration of Lithuania develops the draft budget, which is coordinated with the Judicial Council, it as well organizes the implementation of judicial programs and investment projects to ensure efficient and rational management and use of state finances.
Lithuanian colleagues were interested in the involvement of the Judicial Council of Latvia in determining the number of judges and in the procedure of selecting judges.
The delegations agreed on the organization of the next working meeting in Riga and expressed a mutual desire to cooperate closely within the framework of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary and to create joint international projects.