On Friday, June 22, Dr. P. Nikolai Ehlers, LL.M. and his brother Prof. Dr. Dr. Alexander P.F. Ehlers – Herbert Ehlers’ grandsons with families visited the Supreme Court. Herbert Ehlers was one of the most outstanding lawyers of the first period of the free state of Latvia. He is also one of the developers of the cornerstone of civil rights in Latvia – the Civil Law. He has later translated it also into German.

Although Herbert Ehlers has not worked in the Senate of Latvia, his name is well known. Law books compiled and commented by him are known. Herbert Ehlers has worked in both the Ministry of Justice and the Saeima (parliament). He had been the Head of the Codification Division of the Ministry of Justice. While working in the Codification Division, his activities were related to the Senate of Latvia.

Both Herbert Ehlers' grandsons are practicing lawyers. Dr. P. Nikolai Ehlers specializes in aviation law, he is a member of several professional organizations, one of them – the European Air Law Association. His brother, Prof. Dr. Dr. Alexander P.F. Ehlers, is a lawyer specialized in the medical law, as well as a doctor.

Mr. P. Nikolai Ehlers and his family had arrived in Latvia to hold family celebrations with relatives and friends from all over the world, honouring the grandfather's memory and celebrating the centenary of Latvia. The guests were pleased to visit the Supreme Court, to get acquainted with the museum's collection and to walk around the historic premises. Having brought along a special copy of the Civil Law given to Herbert Ehlers in 1938, they were proud to tell about grandfather and his work.

Family members listened and studied the development path of the legal system of Latvia with interest. "We wanted to see how the legal system in Latvia – a very important part of state power – has evolved, as well as to learn about today’s Latvia. Now we see that Latvia takes proper care of its legal environment, we see Latvia's national identity and the strength of the judiciary," Mr. Nikolai Ehlers said at the conclusion of the visit.

 

Information prepared by Iveta Jaudzema, International Cooperation Specialist of the Supreme Court
E-mail: iveta.jaudzema@at.gov.lv; telephone: +371 67020396