On April 6, within the framework of the Shadow Day, 13 students from Liepāja, Valmiera, Jelgava, Līvāni, Kuldīga, Lejasciems and Rīga visited the Supreme Court and got acquainted with the daily work of the Supreme Court and the work of a judge.

At the beginning of the day, the students met with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Aigars Strupišs, who introduced them with the Latvian justice system, the competence of the Supreme Court and the skills and abilities required for the office of a judge.

Under the guidance of Dzintra Balta, Senator of the Department of Civil Cases, the students took a part in moot court of a civil action for non-material damage. The students took on the role of a judge, a plaintiff and a defendant. At the end of the day, the students acknowledged the moot court as the most interesting part of the day, because it gave an opportunity to experience court proceedings in real life together with an already experienced judge. It made it possible to understand what it was like to be the judge who has to pass a judgement, after hearing the parties, and what it is like to be the party who has to justify their position.

Then the ‘shadows’ visited their ‘shadow givers’ - Anita Poļakova, Chair of the Department of Criminal Cases, Judges of the Department of Criminal Cases Artūrs Freibergs and Aivars Uminskis, Judges of the Department of Administrative Cases Rudīte Vīduša and Anita Kovaļevska, Judge of the Department of Civil Cases Kristīne Zīle. Students assessed the conversations with their 'shadow givers' as highly valuable and acknowledged that the experience gained during the conversations had reinforced their interest in the legal profession.

During the day, the students walked the hallways of the historic Palace of Justice, visiting the Senate’s historic courtroom or the Green Hall which houses inscription "One Law, One Justice for All", looking into the courtrooms and visiting the Supreme Court Museum.

"Shadow Day" is a world-famous student career development event which is organized every year in Latvia by Junior Achievement-Latvia. Its main task is to broaden students' horizons and understanding of the knowledge and skills needed for their future profession.

 

 

Information prepared by Baiba Kataja, the Press Secretary of the Supreme Court

Tel.: +371 67020396; e-mail: baiba.kataja@at.gov.lv