On Thursday, the Saeima (Parliament) approved in the final reading the amendments to the law “On Judicial Power” which stipulate introduction of a new article in the law regarding the Commission of Judicial Ethics. The amendments were passed by 54 parliamentarians voting for, six – against, and 12 parliamentarians abstained.

Next week, on April 11, at the Latvian Judicial Conference it is expected to elect the Commission of Judicial Ethics, as well as to approve the regulations of the commission.

The amendments to the law state that the Commission of Judicial Ethics is a collegiate judicial self-management institution the principal goal of which is to provide conclusions on the interpretation and violations of ethical standards, as well as to clarify and highlight the judicial ethical standards.

The Commission of Judicial Ethics will consist of 10 members, two of them – from the Supreme Court, who, by secret ballot, will be elected by the Judicial Conference. A judge, Honorary Judge or a person who has been released from the position of a judge due to reaching the maximum age limit for the position of a judge, will have the right to be nominated and elected a member of the Commission of Judicial Ethics. A nominee to the position of a member of the Commission of Judicial Ethics has to have impeccable reputation and understanding of the role of ethics in the work of a judge, and the issues of judicial ethics.

The status of a member of the Commission of Judicial Ethics shall not be compatible with the position of a member of the Judicial Disciplinary Panel. The term of position of the members of the commission of Judicial Ethics will be four years. A member of the Commission of Judicial Ethics will have the right to be elected repeatedly, but not more than for two successive terms.

Judges of the Constitutional Court, representatives of the professions related to the judicial power, specialists in ethics and recognized law experts will be the advisors to the Commission of Judicial Ethics.

The work of the Commission of Judicial Ethics will be ensured by the Court Administration. Once a year, the Commission of Judicial Ethics will present a report on its activities to the Judicial Conference.

 

Information prepared by

Head of the Division of Communications of the Supreme Court Rasma Zvejniece

E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 7020396, 28652211