6 June, 2007
The symbol of the position of a judge of Lithuania is presented. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania Vytautas Greicius presented the symbol of the position of a judge of Lithuania to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Latvia which is put on together with the judge’s gown. He told that the creation of the sign has an interesting and complicated history, and the Lithuanian judges hold it in high esteem. The gift to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Latvia is only the third symbol of the position which has left the territory of Lithuania. It proves that the Lithuanian colleagues highly evaluate the cooperation with the Supreme Court of Latvia.
The Supreme Courts of the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania will continue to develop cooperation and share experience, it was undertaken by the representatives of the courts at the closing of the visit of the delegation of the Lithuanian Supreme Court.
The Lithuanian Supreme Court has already entered into agreement on cooperation with the Supreme Court of France, and as the Chief Justice of the Court Vytautas Greicius admitted, his goal is to enter into the next such agreement with the nearest neighbours – the Supreme Court of Latvia. Andris Gulans thinks that the cooperation of the highest court instances of Latvia and Lithuania will be valuable and fruitful as the courts of both countries have much in common, both have started their development on the same positions, they have common problems, therefore there are many possibilities to make use of the experience of the other and, probably, to settle some problems jointly. Further meetings could be arranged not only for the management, but also for the judges. It is possible that already this year a joint conference of the judges of both countries is arranged during which the problems current to the courts would be discussed on a professional, deeper level.
A. Gulans finds significant the meeting of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania V. Greicius with the Legal Commission of the Saeima (Parliament). The Chief Justice of the Lithuanian Supreme Court told the members of the Saeima that in Lithuania, the Judicial Council functions already for 12 years. Latvia is one of the few countries which do not have such a court self-management institution which ensures the independence of the courts. The functions delegated to the Judicial Council vary in different countries, in Lithuania it has a very significant role – the Judicial Council not only ensures the organization of the work of courts, it also evaluates the matters of judicial ethics and disciplinary responsibility. In Latvia, the draft law on judicial power stipulates also the Judicial Council, however, its role, functions and independence are reflected rather vaguely, and it is a matter to be widely discussed. Therefore, as A. Gulans indicates, the meeting of the members of the Saeima with the Chief Justice op the Supreme Court of the Republic of Latvia was a professionally valuable discussion of exchange of experience.
During the visit, the delegation of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania had meetings also with the senators and judges of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Latvia, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Latvia Janis Maizitis and the Chairman of the Constitutional Court Gunars Kutris. The delegation of Lithuania visited the Cesis District Court, as well.
On June 4 – 6, upon the invitation of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Latvia, the delegation of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania – the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Vytautas Greicius, the judges of the Department of Civil Cases Egidijus Lauzikas and Sigitas Gurevicius, and the judge of the Department of Criminal Cases Jonas Prapiestis visited Latvia.
Information prepared by Division of Communications of the Supreme Court
Author: Rasma Zvejniece, Head of the Division of Communications of the Supreme Court
E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 7020396, 28652211
