In the period from March 2007 till April 2008, 13 meetings of the Judicial Qualification Panel were convened in which 208 cases were reviewed. It was reported by the Chairman of the Judicial Qualification Panel Gunars Aigars at the judicial conference on April 11.

For conferring a qualification grade, 80 judges were certified – for 25 more than in the previous report period. Ten judges – one from the Supreme Court and nine – from the regional courts – received the highest – the 1st qualification grade. The 2nd qualification grade was conferred to 37 judges – one from the Supreme Court, nineteen from the regional courts and seventeen from the district (town) courts, the 3rd grade was conferred to 14 judges – two judges from the regional courts and twelve – from the district (town) courts, 4 judges from the district (town) courts were conferred the 4th qualification grade, and 12 judges – the 5th qualification grade. In one case it was declined to confer a qualification grade.

The Judicial Qualification Panel evaluates the qualification for the position of a judge of each of the candidates nominated for the first time and accepts the qualification examination of a candidate to the position of a judge. During the report period, the examination was passed by 43 new judges in the district (town) courts and land registers, the examination was not passed by one candidate. Without taking the examination, the approval for appointment in the position was given to 13 candidates to the position of the regional court judge and 3 candidates to the position of the Supreme Court judge.

Approval for appointment in the position without the limitation of term of the position was given to 26 judges from the district (town) courts and land registers, and 7 judges have received consent for a repeated confirmation in the position. Two judges of the regional courts and one judge of the land register received approval for extension of the term of office.

Within a year, the Judicial Qualification Panel reviewed also 30 materials on determination of the term of in-service training for possible candidates to the position of a judge.

Under Article 93, part 1, of the law “On Judicial Power” the Judicial Qualification Panel is a judicial self-management body the task of which is to strengthen the professional independence of judges. The Panel evaluates the qualification for the position of a judge of each of the candidates nominated for the first time and accepts the qualification examination of a candidate to the position of a judge, issues conclusions on the candidates to the position of a judge of the courts of all levels and the land registers, certifies the judges and confers them the qualification grade, as well as decide upon issues on relegation of judges. The Qualification Panel consists of one judge from each of the departments of the Senate and each of the chambers of the Supreme Court, as well as one judge from the panel of civil cases of the regional court, one judge from the panel of criminal cases of the regional court, one judge from the administrative regional court, two judges from the district (town) courts, and two judges from the land registers.

 

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