The exhibition "The Senate of Latvia - 100", which was opened at the Supreme Court on the 19th of December on the 99th anniversary of the Senate, reflects the history of the cassation instance of the judicial system of Latvia – the Senate of Latvia – since its establishment in 1918 until its liquidation in 1940. As well as it tells about fates of the senators after the Soviet occupation. Exhibition will be open all year round until the centenary of the Senate of Latvia.

The exhibition begins with the fundamental law of the courts of Latvia – the Interim Statute on Courts and Litigation Procedures, issued on 6 December 1918, and an overview of the life and work of the senators. Historic photographs of the Senate, as well as judge's insignia and a work certificate until 1940 can be viewed. There are court rulings of the time, compilations of judgments, and summaries of theses placed in the stands telling about the activities of the Senate.

The second part of the exhibition tells about the diverse political, pedagogical and social activities of senators. Senators were politicians, statesmen, diplomats before or after they worked as judges. At the exhibition, handwritten notes on Latvian Provisional National Council by the Chair of the Council Voldemars Zamuels can be found, as well as handwritten notes about the League of Nations and the Mass Media of Karlis Ducmanis, a diplomat and permanent resident delegate of the United Nations in Geneva, and remarks of Fridrihs Vesmanis on his diplomatist years in the Great Britain.

A particularly precious copy of the Civil Law is testimony to the participation of senators in the creation of laws. Such copies were presented by the State President and Prime Minister Karlis Ulmanis in 1938 to members of the Commission that elaborated the Civil Law. The exhibit is a copy belonging to Senator Vladimir Bukovsky.

Exhibits from the stock of Bukovsky family can also be found in the stand of recognition certificates received by the senators – these are the highest awards of the three Baltic States. The exhibition also features the letter of endorsement of the Order of Three Stars received by August Loeber. Also, an announcement of granting August Loeber the status of the Senator Emeritus is included in the exhibition. After retirement, he and Fridrihs Vesmanis have been given the said title.

Looking at the stand on senators' lives after 1940, emotionally touching are materials from the seven deported senators’ personal files, in which there are also pages showing the verdict – condemned to be shot. No deported senators returned to Latvia. The confirmation of the contribution of the exiled senators to the preservation of the independence of the state of Latvia is, for example, the 1948 opinion of the exiled senators on the continuity of the Latvian state.

The exhibition tells also a story about the senators’ families and the preservation of the memory of the senators – in photographs, letters, books. There is also Voldemars Zamuels’ hand-drawn family tree.

The materials of the Supreme Court Museum, as well as photographs, documents and other evidence from the archives of the senators’ families were used to create the exhibition. The Supreme Court expresses its gratitude to relatives of senators Janis Skudre, Vladimir Bukovsky and Teodors Bergtals for the materials collected for the exhibition.

Visitors to the Supreme Court can see the exhibition "The Senate of Latvia - 100" in the lobby of the first floor. If the particular purpose of the visit is to view the exhibition – it is necessary to order a pass at the Division of Communication and present a personal identification document – a passport or ID card – upon arrival.

 

 

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