On September 8, in the centre of Trikāta, next to the monument of King Tālivaldis, a lilac was planted in memory of Senator Jānis Kalacs. It is a gift from the Supreme Court and administrative courts to the people of Trikāta in the centenary of administrative justice.

Jānis Kalacs was one of the founders of administrative justice in Latvia – a senator of the Administrative Department of the Latvian Senate in 1922–1940 and the chairman of the department in 1934–1940. He was born in 1868 in Trikāta parish, therefore one of the centenary lilacs of administrative justice was planted in his native region. This lilac was donated by the Supreme Court, which is the successor of the work and traditions of the Latvian Senate.

In the presence of Trikāta Primary School students, teachers and villagers, Veronika Krūmiņa, Chairperson of the Department of Administrative Cases of the Senate, Senator Jautrīte Briede and Guntars Ploriņš, Chairperson of Valmiera Courthouse of the Administrative District Court, planted a lilac in the square near the Trikāta Conference House. Inga Boškina, a regional researcher from Trikāta, told more about Jānis Kalacs.

After the lilac was planted, the judges talked to the students about living in a state governed by the rule of law, about administrative law, the judicial system and the office of a judge.

See more photos from the event here.

Why do courts plant lilacs?

100 years ago, in 1921, the Law on Administrative Courts was adopted, which is the beginnings of administrative justice in Latvia. The centenary is celebrated at the same time as the second significant anniversary, namely 20 years ago, the current Administrative Procedure Law was adopted. A lilac has been chosen as the symbol of this year of anniversaries, which is as present in the yards of homes of Latvian people as are the administrative rights in everyone's life. The lilac has already been planted in the garden of the President's Palace as a gift to Egils Levits, who was the author of the idea and driving force of the Administrative Procedure Law. Lilacs will also be planted at the Administrative Courthouse in Riga, Baldones Street.

 

 

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