The Judicial Qualification Panel has managed to dispel the view that it is a punitive institution the only goal of which is to punish – it was stressed in the report of the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel Andris Gulans at the conference on April 11.

Out of seventeen disciplinary cases brought in 2007, in eight cases the Panel applied punishment – reprimand, in four cases – a warning. For the first time in one of the cases an unusual measure of punishment was imposed – decrease of the amount of salary for 20% for a period of one year. However, three disciplinary cases were just heard at the meeting, and in one event the disciplinary case was terminated.

Seven disciplinary cases were initiated by the Minister of Justice, five – by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and one – by both the chairmen of the Zemgales District court and the Latgales regional court.

In 2007 amendments were introduced to the Regulations of the Disciplinary Panel stating that in case that a disciplinary case is initiated by a member of the Disciplinary Panel, he/she participates only in hearings of the case, but does not take part in adoption of a decision.

The Judicial Disciplinary Panel is a self-government institution of judges the members of which, excluding the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, are elected by the conference of judges by secret ballot. The Disciplinary Panel reviews disciplinary cases regarding disciplinary and administrative violations of judges of district (town) courts, land register departments, judges of regional courts and the Supreme Court, gives its opinion on dismissal from position of a chairman or deputy chairman of a district (town) court and a chairman or deputy chairman of a regional court. The activities of the Judicial Disciplinary Panel are regulated by the Law on Judicial Disciplinary Responsibility and the Regulations of the Judicial Disciplinary Panel. Regarding the organization and finances, the work of the Disciplinary Panel is ensured by the Supreme Court.

 

Information prepared by

Head of the Division of Communications of the Supreme Court Rasma Zvejniece

E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 7020396, 28652211