On the centennial of the Senate of Latvia, the Supreme Court offers to watch the film "Senators", which is the story of thirty Latvian senators – judges of the cassation instance in the first period of the Free State of Latvia from 1918 to 1940.

The Supreme Court invites the local authorities of senators' birthplaces to cooperate by learning facts about and honouring lives and contribution to Latvia of their compatriots – the senators of the Senate of Latvia. Also, the Supreme Court will gladly react to the call to show the film at other places that have been significant in the lives of senators, including universities, courts and elsewhere.

The film "Senators" is a story about strong lawyers and versatile personalities who with their knowledge and work formed the state of Latvia and remained loyal to it even after losing independence, while dying in deportation and working for decades in exile for good of Latvia. This is a story about Latvia's history, justice and love. Senators loved their country, their work and their families.

But this is not just a story about history, but also about succession and present days. The senators' lives are continued by their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and stories told by them are the emotional value of the film. We express gratitude to daughters of Senator Janis Skudre – Gaida Skudre and Balva Gutmane, granddaughter of Senator Janis Ankravs – Sigma Ankrava, granddaughter of Senator Mintauts Cakste – Kristine Cakste, granddaughter of Senator Augusts Rumpeters – Rita Laima Berzina, great-granddaughter of Senator Teodors Bergtals – Ilona Niedre, and to Anna Veleda Zigure – granddaughter of Peteris Sterste’s sister.

The work and traditions of the Senate of Latvia are continued by the Supreme Court, and the Chief Justice Ivars Bickovics says: “It is not a history which is simply put on the shelves”. Moreover, the first Chief Justice of the restored Supreme Court of the Republic of Latvia, Gvido Zemribo, calls senators the Gold Fund of Latvia.

Film experts are Judge of the European Union Court of Justice Egils Levits and assistant professor at the University of Latvia and Advisor to the President on the issues of the Constitutional Law, Janis Pleps, Chairs of the Departments of the Supreme Court Edite Vernusa, Veronika Krumina and Peteris Dzalbe, Advisor Zinaida Indruna, Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Andris Gulans and Senator Kalvis Torgans, Head of the Memorandum of the Latvian Central Council Ieva Kvale, Kuldiga District Museum Specialist Jolanta Medina.

Materials from the Supreme Court Museum, materials from the Latvian War Museum, the Kuldiga District Museum, materials of the Skrunda Television and from the Senator's Family Archives are used in the production of the film.

The Supreme Court created the film in cooperation with SIA Kursas TV.

For possibilities of watching the film and visiting the Supreme Court, as well as on options for out-of-court demonstration of the film, please contact the Division of Communication 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: +371 67020396, +371 28652211