18 October, 2022
On Monday, October 17, Aigars Strupišs, the chair of the Judicial Council, and Dzintra Balta, the deputy chair of the Judicial Council visited Daugavpils and Rēzekne courts to discuss the issues of judicial development.
Within the framework of the visit, the chair of the Judicial Council informed the judges of Daugavpils and Rēzekne courts about the strategic directions of the Judicial Council, as well as discussed the execution of this year's work plan.
When discussing the personnel issues of courts, judges of Daugavpils and Rēzekne courts indicated that the positive feature of the region is the permanence of court employees. At the same time, the judges emphasized the need to strengthen the institution of judge assistant by organizing more frequent training for judge assistants. The judges also called for a change in the performance evaluation procedure for the existing judge assistants. The Chairman of the Judicial Council Aigars Strupišs stated the need to create a standard for the position of judge assiatant in order to increase the professional qualification of the support staff of judges.
The members of the Judicial Council and the judges discussed the time limits for examination of cases and possible solutions to achieve faster examination of cases. The judges marked the complexity of the Criminal Procedure Law and non-appearance of the participants in the court hearings as the main reasons that hinder efficient handling of cases.
When discussing the operation of the electronic case management system and the Court Information System, the judges said that courts need support staff in information technologies.
The judges of Daugavpils and Rēzekne courts welcomed the opportunity to organize a meeting with district (city) courts, regional courts and Supreme Court judges to discuss topical case law.
Within the framework of the visit, it was agreed to organize a discussion on the merger of Daugavpils Court and Rēzekne Court.
The members of the Judicial Council and the judges of Daugavpils and Rēzekne courts also discussed other issues of judicial development that affect the work of self-government of judges and the specialization of judges.
Additional information:
The Judicial Council participates in the development of the policy and strategy of the judicial system, as well as in the improvement of the work organization of the judicial system. Therefore, in order to ensure a high-quality and direct dialogue with the judiciary, members of the Judicial Council also met with the judges of the Regional Courts of Latgale, Zemgale, Vidzeme, Kurzeme, and Riga. Members of the Judicial Council also plan to meet with the judges of other first instance courts and of the Administrative regional Court.