On November 10 at the solemn meeting of Riga Regional Court, which was dedicated to the Latvian Independence Day, Ivars Bickovics, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presented a gift to colleagues – a historical photo-stand. It is a reminder of judges of Riga Regional Court, who strengthened the rule of law during the first period of the independence of Latvia.

The original stand, which currently has more than 80 years of history, was found at times when the Supreme Court operated in premises of the present-day Riga Regional Court. Returning to the historical Palace of Justice, the testimony of time of the independence of Latvia was stored in the Supreme Court Museum. Now when Riga Regional Court has formed its own museum photo-stand has being returned to its true heirs.

Riga Regional Court had combined the celebration of the Independence Day with the annual performance evaluation and completion of judicial reform. The Chief Justice in his address to the audience stressed that at the moment judicial employees are witnesses of two historic reforms - a transition to a “clear” three-instance court system, which would be concluded at the end of 2016, and the territorial reform, which is at its early stage. The first reform is of particular importance to regional courts because it expands their role in the Latvian court system. Dismantling the court chambers – the appellate instance of the Supreme Court - is undoubtedly increasing not only the work-load in the regional courts, but also their importance. If until now the Chambers of the Supreme Court constituted a uniform case-law when receiving cases from all the regional courts, than from now on it will be the task of each regional court. The Chief Justice praised Riga Regional Court, which being the largest regional court has assumed a certain leadership of the process by summarizing appellate case-law and organizing collective videoconferencing of the regional courts.

The Chief Justice congratulated the Regional Court on another important event - the new premises of the Chancery which were designed taking into consideration the ease of access to the court and quality customer service. The Chief Justice noted the importance of this fact in the operation of the court by pointing out the conclusions of two studies. Costumer survey showed that parties of the proceedings perceived not only judges, but also every court employee as the court. And the attitude towards the court is formed not only from the judgment signed by the judges, but also taking into account customer service in the Chancery. A study on the perception of corruption in the administration of justice confirmed the interrelationships - the court starts with the guards who check the documents of the court visitors and with employees of the Chancellery who answer telephone calls and introduce parties with the case file. "Thus the court is every judge and every employee. Their performance forms opinion about the work of the court as a whole. Through our work we shall enhance people's trust in Latvia as the state governed by the rule of law," said the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

 

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