10 years ago – on 30 December 2004 – the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court signed the order on establishment of the Administration of the Supreme Court.

With amendments to the law “On Judicial Power” of 22 September 2005 the Administration of the Supreme Court is entered into Section 501 of the law, stating that it is the structural unit of the Supreme Court, which organises and ensures administrative work of the court. The Administration of the Supreme Court performs financial management, takes care of material and technical facilities, deals with record keeping, organises personnel management and training, ensures communication with society and performs international cooperation. Since 2010, one more function of the Administration of the Supreme Court is stipulated by the law, namely, to ensure work of the Council for the Judiciary.

Currently, the Administration consists of five divisions – Finance Division, Human Resources Division, Document Administration Division, Information Technology Division, Communication Division – and the Chancery with Secretariats of Court Chambers and Departments.  Sandra Lapina is the Head of the Administration.

Evaluating the first decade of its activity, the Administration of the Supreme Court developed chronicle of the most significant events of the decade, pointing out the most important achievements of every year.

2005: Activity of the Administration of the Supreme Court is established in the law “On Judicial Power”; Length-of-Service badges and Themis Awards of the Supreme Court are developed; international conference dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Supreme Court; the team of the Supreme Court participates in sports games of system of justice for the first time.

2006:Record-keeping information system replaces registers written by hand; development of modern computer network.

2007:Elaboration of the first strategy of the Supreme Court; adjustment of internal acts and regulations; establishment of the Division of Complaints; visit by the President of Latvia.

2008: The Human Resources Division commences operation; change of management of the Supreme Court and the Administration; economic breakdown, which requires analysis of resources; historical research and book about senators of the Senate of Latvia; new web site and internal web site; choir of the court.

2009: Severe year with decreased financing; premises on the 1st and the 2nd floor are acquired, which provides an opportunity to improve work conditions of judges and employees; beginning of traditions related to educating of society – Days of First-year Students and Senators’ lessons.

2010:Court archive is located in appropriate premises and court has its own reading-room; successful cooperation with the Faculty of Law starts with extended conference on judicature of the Supreme Court; tradition of publishing the Supreme Court Bulletin is restored; functions of the Administration are extended, having founded the Council for the Judiciary; the second strategy of the Supreme Court is elaborated.  

2011:“Recovery” after economic breakdown; the second edition of the brochure about the Supreme Court in Latvian and English language; the first Latvian Judges’ Conference, in organisation of which the Administration of the Supreme Court is involved upon task ordered by the Council for the Judiciary.

2012:Restoration of financing for case-law studies is won; international conference on human rights in cooperation with Riga Graduate School of Law.

2013:Visit by the President of Latvia; new, multifunctional web site; movie dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Senate of Latvia; the third strategy of the Supreme Court.

2014:the Chancery is included in composition of the Administration; book about history of the Chamber of Criminal Cases; conference on a court in legal cultural state; the State Award – the Cross of Recognition – is granted to the employee of the Administration; international Latvian Judges’ Conference.

Looking back to 10 years of operation of the Administration of the Supreme Court, the Head Sandra Lapina mentions professionalism, development and mutual understanding as fundamental principles of work of the Administration. “Our work continues – new challenges come, new tasks appear, but our work task remains the same – to ensure work of the Supreme Court at the highest level in all fields trusted to us,” the Head of the Administration points out..

 

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