28 November, 2017
The selection procedure for judges and the training of new judges presented to the Council for the Judiciary is fundamentally different from the current procedure for selection, traineeship and qualification examination for judges nominated for the first time.
The new concept envisages the establishment and maintenance of a centralized list of candidates for the position of a judge, and a different content of the selection procedure for candidates, as well as the training of new judges, thus ensuring that in case a vacancy arises it could be filled by a new judge.
Substantial changes are also envisaged for training and recruiting a new judge, providing that the judge starts to fulfill his/her duties without a traineeship. In the first year of work, the judge is provided with a reduced work-load, compulsory studies and a judge-mentor.
The Council for the Judiciary, which did not conceptually oppose the elaboration of the new selection procedure of judges, acknowledged that the functions of the candidate selection board are not transferable to the Judicial Qualification Committee, but a separate board for the selection of judges is to be set up.
The new order will incorporate the proposals made by the Council for the Judiciary, after which it will be re-submitted for Council's evaluation.
The Council for the Judiciary also discussed the need to analyze issues related to the management and supervision of time-limits needed for adjudication of cases, as well as the necessity to provide more information on the court website on the progress of cases in the courts.
The Council for the Judiciary adopted the decision in the sitting of 27 November 2017 in a written procedure.
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