- 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.
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 recommendation 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 judge of the Supreme Court has been confirmed for the post by the Saeima (Parliament), by recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, for an unlimited period of time.
A person, who is not younger than 40 years, may pretend for the post of the judge of the Supreme Court, and may serve until the age of seventy (70). The Board of Justice, upon a recommendation by the Judicial Qualifications Committee, may extend the term of office of the judge for the term of maximum, two years.
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.
