10 March, 2015
The Council for the Judiciary supports amendments to the law “On Judicial Power” advanced for the third reading to the Saeima (Parliament) under expedited procedure. Amendments would develop legal basis for reorganisation of district (city) courts, merging several courts and establishing court houses. Amendments to the law stipulate procedure of termination of authority of the Char and deputy Chair of reorganised court, and procedure of transfer of a judge in case of reorganisation of courts.
The Council for the Judiciary supported promotion of these amendments to the law under condition that the law must include regulation on transfer of a judge, namely, that the judge may not be transferred to a work place located in other area without his or her consent, if the court is reorganised.
The Council for the Judiciary also supported another elaborated amendments to the law “On Judicial Power”, which determine regulation regarding judges of the chamber of the Supreme Court, who are not transferred to respective department after liquidation of the chamber.
Amendments to the law envisage refusal from previous procedure, when the decision on transfer of judges of court chambers were adopted by general meeting of judges of respective department. It is envisaged that positive statement of the Judicial Qualification Committee will play determinant role, but if several judges of liquidated chambers will pretend to vacant offices in the department, the Judicial Qualification Committee will decide on the most appropriate candidacy.
The Council for the Judiciary pointed out the fact that transitional provisions to the law must be specified, establishing procedure of appointment of judges of the Chamber of Civil Cases to the office of a judge of the department, if it occurs prior to termination of operation of the court chamber.
Information prepared by
Rasma Zvejniece, the Head of the Division of Communication of the Supreme Court
E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 67020396, 28652211