On the 25th anniversary of the restored Senate, a Gallery of Portraits of former Chief Justices was opened in the Supreme Court. All three former Chief Justices of the Supreme Court who held the office after the restoration of Latvia's independence – Gvido Zemribo, Andris Gulans and Ivars Bickovics – took part in the opening ceremony.

"It is important for every institution, including the court, to keep evidence of its history. This Gallery of Portraits of Chief Justices of the Supreme Court is a tribute to the people who have managed the work of the court since the establishment of the Supreme Court of the independent Republic of Latvia,” said the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Aigars Strupiss.

Along with the Gallery of Portraits, the Book of Chief Justices of the Senate/Supreme Court of Latvia has also been created, in which, together with the signature of each Chief Justice, his wish or cognition is contained.

Gvido Zemribo, who had been the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court since 1985, also became the first Chief Justice of the re-established Supreme Court of the Republic of Latvia in 1990 and headed the court until 1994. Gvido Zemribo is also the author of the text of the Latvian judge's oath, and he has written the words of the judge's oath in the Book of Chief Justices, stating that the judge is always obliged to find out the truth and to never betray it.

Andris Gulans was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1994 to 2008. In his entry in the Book of Chief Justices, he mentions a unique event that remains in the history of Latvian courts – the establishment of the renewed Senate in 1995, “I had the honour to be actively involved in this process. I am grateful to the judges of the Supreme Court of that time for their support and co-operation in creating the structure of the new court, as well as for their significant professional contribution to turning the idea of ​​a cassation instance into a reality and strengthening the rule of law in our country.”

From 2008 to 2020 the Supreme Court operated under the leadership of Ivars Bickovics. In the Book of Chief Justices, he recorded a well-wishing for the Supreme Court to strengthen people's trust in justice and the rule of law through their work, stability and professionalism.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Aigars Strupiss pointed out that this is only the beginning of the Gallery of Portraits of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, the continuation will be a return to older history, namely, adding the portraits of the first Chief Justices of the Senate of Latvia to the Gallery, thus emphasizing the succession of the independent Senate of Latvia, which was a cassation instance until 1940.

 

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