On Friday, 14 March, the Judicial Council decided on the objectively necessary number of judges in Latvian courts in order to ensure efficient and quality functioning of the judicial system.
Based on the performance indicators of the courts, the Judicial Council assessed the number of judges needed at each court and the priorities for filling vacant posts. The Judicial Council decided that, as of 16 April 2025, one senatorial post at the Supreme Court (Senate) would be transferred from the Department of Civil Cases to the Department to the Criminal Cases, and two judicial posts would be transferred from the Riga City Court to the Economic Court. In order to promote efficient use of resources, the Judicial Council decided that 135 out of 141 judicial posts in regional courts should be filled, and 381 out of 405 judicial posts in district (city) courts should be filled.
At the same time, the Judicial Council decided that the financial resources saved from the 30 unfilled judicial posts could be allocated to the implementation of the Judicial Council's 2025 priority measure – the development of the court support staff system. This measure is essential to improve the quality and efficiency of the judicial system by ensuring adequate remuneration of court support staff. Inadequate remuneration of judicial staff is one of the main problems affecting the attraction of judicial staff for long-term employment in the judicial system, therefore addressing this issue is crucial for the sustainable development of the judicial system.
The Judicial Council also decided to announce a competition for the posts of district and regional court judges specialising in criminal, civil and administrative cases on 1 September 2025. The decision to announce the competition for the specific specialisations was taken with a view to encouraging candidates to apply for selection as judges.
The Judicial Council also decided on career issues for judges. Jānis Grīnbergs, Judge of the Collegium of Civil Cases of the Vidzeme Regional Court, was appointed as Deputy President of the Vidzeme Regional Court and Chair of the Collegium of Civil Cases for the five-year term. Also, for five years, the current Chair of the Valmiera Courthouse of the Administrative District Court, Guntars Ploriņš, was reappointed as Chair of the said Courthouse, while Judge Māris Šļakota was appointed as Chair of the Rēzekne Courthouse of the Administrative District Court.
In order to ensure the right of persons to timely examination of cases by the appellate court, the Judicial Council also decided to remove the Riga Regional Court from the allocation procedure of administrative violation cases until 15 September this year.
Additional information:
The Judicial Council is a collegial institution that participates in the development of the policy and strategy of the judicial system, as well as in the improvement of the organisation of the work of the judicial system.
The total number of judges in district (city) courts, the Economic Court, the District Administrative Court, regional courts and the Regional Administrative Court is determined by the Saeima (parliament) upon the proposal of the Judicial Council. The number of judges in the departments of the Supreme Court, regional courts and city (district) courts shall be determined by the Judicial Council.
In accordance with the procedure for the selection of candidates for the office of a district (city) court and a regional court judge, a competition shall be organised at least once every three years and shall be announced on the first working day of September of the calendar year, unless the Judicial Council decides otherwise. The procedure for the selection of candidates for the office of a district (city) court and a regional court judge shall be determined by the Judicial Council and published in the official publication "Latvijas Vēstnesis".
The Judicial Council shall decide on the candidates for the office of presidents and deputy presidents of district (city) courts and regional courts and chairs of courthouses after receiving the opinion of the selection commission. The Judicial Qualification Committee has issued a positive opinion on all three candidates.