Fair and effective administration of justice and strengthening of independence of court system is mission of the Supreme Court, but its strategic vision is to be guarantor of justice – this has been envisaged in strategy of activities of the Supreme Court for 2014-2016, which was developed and approved at the end of previous year.

Four strategic goals have remained the same as those were in strategies of previous years, but tasks to achieve those were updated. These strategic goals are professional and fair administration of justice, development of uniform case-law, promotion of public trust and understanding about judiciary and implementation of principle of good governance.

One more strategic goal had been added, namely, reorganisation of the Supreme Court, which will be particularly topical during next three years due to reform of Latvian court system, when transferring to so called system of “clear court instances”. Within this system, the Supreme Court is envisaged only as cassation instance court, without chambers, which were appellate instance court. The law “On Judicial Power” states that the Chamber of Criminal Cases shall remain in the Supreme Court until December 31, 2014, and the Chamber of Civil Cases – until December 31, 2016.  

The Supreme Court brought forward strengthening of capacity of cassation instance and development of structure conforming to tasks and load of cassation instance as its goals within this reorganisation, as well as development of legal provisions to implement this reorganisation.  

The Supreme Court believes that in reorganisation process it is important to gather information about resources necessary to cassation instance and to use human resources and intellectual potential of court chambers rationally. When transferring from appellate instance to cassation instance, the court will provide to the personnel necessary training.

The Supreme Court also believes that it is important to preserve role of the Supreme Court in development of uniform case-law. Previously, court chambers played significant role in this field, as those were the highest appellate instance, which, reviewing cases on the merits, developed uniform case-law in the state. In future, this function will be performed by five regional courts, thus it is necessary to strengthen role and capacity of the Supreme Court as of cassation instance in compilation of case-law and development of judicature.

When reorganising the Supreme Court, development of structure that would conform to tasks and load of cassation instance is promoted as strategically important goal. It is envisaged to assess necessary changes in structure and organisation of work of the Supreme Court and, according to assessment, to increase number of judges and employees in cassation instance. Increase of capacity of the Division of Case-law and foundation of analytical structural units in departments of the Supreme Court was also deliberated.  

The Supreme Court Strategy is mid-term policy document, which states directions of activities and development of the Supreme Court. On the basis of goals established in the strategy, annual work plans of structural units and the Supreme Court have been developed and funds have been requested. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Chairs of departments of the Senate and court chambers and their assistants, Heads of the administration and its Divisions participated in development of strategy for 2014-2016.  

 

Information prepared by

Rasma Zvejniece, the Head of the Division of Communication of the Supreme Court

E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 67020396, 28652211