- The Justices of the Supreme Court
in December 2007
The law On judical power states that only Latvian citizens, highly qualified and fair-minded lawyers, may work as judges. A judge may not be involved in any party or other political organisations.
In 2010, the Supreme Court consists of 24 Senators (justices of the Senate), including the Chief Justice, and 21 justices who serve in the Supreme Court’s Chambers. The full Court forms a Plenary Session of the Supreme Court.
The Chief Justice has the authority to recommend individuals to be confirmed for a positions as justices, based upon recommendations made by the Judicial Qualifications Committee. A judge of a district (city) court or a regional court having at least the third qualification grade, or a person having a total of 15 years of service in the legal specialties at an institution of higher education, in the position of an advocate or prosecutor, and having passed the qualification examination may apply for the position of a Supreme Court Judge. Upon a motivated proposal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court any other person having at least 15 years of service in a legal specialty and who has passed the qualification examination may also apply for the position of a Supreme Court Judge, but for the academic staff of legal specialties of higher education institutions, advocates and prosecutors the necessary total length of service may be shorter - not less than 10 years.
The Supreme Court justices are confirmed for office by the Saeima (Parliament).
The Supreme Court justices are confirmed for an unlimited period of time, and may serve until the age of seventy (70). Upon a recommendation by the Judicial Qualifications Committee, the Chief Justice may extend the term of a seventy (70) years old justice for an additional five-year period beyond age seventy (70).
Judges may not be dismissed from the position. A judge may be dismissed from the position by the Saeima upon a suggestion of the Judicial Disciplinary Panel only in the cases specified by the law: if a judge has been convicted and the court adjudication has come into effect, or on the basis of a decision of the Judicial Disciplinary Panel.
