On February 7, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court accepted the oath from three bailiffs.

The bailiffs Baiba Ozolina, Anda Ranse and Rita Grante swore loyalty to the State of Latvia, to follow the laws of the state decently, to the best of their conscience and convictions, to respect the state power, to follow instructions and regulations of supervising authorities and their officials, to fulfill honestly the duties of a bailiff, to protect legal interests of persons, entrusted cases and not to disclose secrets of the position being aware that they are amenable to law for their activities.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court accepting the oath stressed the important role of bailiffs in the court system. “A court ruling does not mean much unless it is executed accurately and in the set terms”, A. Gulans said. Bailiffs have to keep in mind that their activities mostly affect the party which has lost in the court proceedings and is not satisfied. The Chief Justice expressed hope that the bailiffs who gave the oath have chosen their profession purposefully, being aware of it. He wished the bailiffs to remember the words of the oath in their everyday life and be fair, incorruptible and honest. He wished them to find fulfillment in their work and to remember that everyone working in the court system is responsible for the opinion which the society will form about this system.

Baiba Ozolina will perform the duties of the bailiff in the 51st circuit of the Riga Regional Court taking over the files of the bailiff Aigars Rusins from the 86th circuit. In 2006, B. Ozolina successfully passed the examination of bailiffs, has been accepted in the Latvian Council of bailiffs and by the decision of the Minister of Justice on January 12, 2007, has been appointed in the position of a bailiff.

Anda Ranse has been appointed to the position of a bailiff in the 77th circuit of the Riga Regional Court where she fulfils the duties of bailiff since December 28, 2002, when she was appointed in the position of the acting bailiff by the order of the Minister of Justice.

Rita Grante also was appointed in the position of the acting bailiff by the order of the Minister of Justice on December 28, 2002, and she fulfilled her duties in the 120th and 121st circuits of the Vidzemes Regional Court. R. Grante was appointed in the position of a bailiff in the 121st circuit of the Vidzemes Regional Court with the assignment to continue fulfillment of duties of a bailiff in the 120th circuit.

Under the law “Amendments to the Law on Bailiffs” which became effective on December 22, 2005, the Transition Regulations were supplemented providing that the Minister of Justice passes a decision on organization of an examination for bailiffs for those acting bailiffs who till January 1, 2005, successfully studied law in the state accredited program in a higher education institution and who have not been imposed more than one disciplinary punishment. A. Ranse and R. Grante successfully passed the examination, and according to the Transition Regulations to the Law on Bailiffs have been appointed in the position of a bailiff.
 

 

Information prepared by Division of Communications of the Supreme Court

Author: Rasma Zvejniece, Head of the Division of Communications of the Supreme Court

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