Stories of Museum exhibits

Supporter of the Supreme Court Museum creation Dītrihs Andrejs Lēbers and his grandson signing the Museum’s guestbook. January 6, 2003

Copy of the Civil law 1937 which once belonged to Senator Augusts Lēbers. A copy of it was given by the then President of Latvia Kārlis Ulmanis to 13 developers of the Law

Photo camera of the former Senator Pāvels Gruziņš which he used to take photographs during the Barricades of 1991 in the vicinity of the Supreme Court

Inkpot and ink roller, which was used by Senator Fridrihs Vesmanis approximately 100 years ago. He was writing and signing a lot of papers as a member of the Constitutional Assembly, the first Saeima (parliament), and as the very first Speaker of the Saeima

Manuscript of the President of the Supreme Court Gvido Zemrībo’s speeches given in the USA in January and February, 1991. "If you believe in great ideas, you should do everything you can to make others believe in them too"

Three special personal belongings of Senator Augusts Lēbers: a watch, a wallet, and a card written by him to his father

During its operation from May 1, 1920, to November 7, 1922, the Constitutional Assembly convened 213 meetings, transcripts of which form thick volumes of books

Reorganization scheme for the Supreme Court approved in 1994 – taking into competence provided for the Supreme Cour in the law “On Judicial Power”

Brochures published by the Latvian Association of Judges in 1997 and 1998, which included topical information about the Latvian judicial system undergoing changes after the restoration of the independent state, are of historical value today

Collection of decisions adopted at Plenary Sessions of the Supreme Court in 1990-1995. The collection is unique – it is the first and the last one published after the restoration of the independence of Latvia

Resolution issued by exiled senators in 1948 on the validity of the Constitution of Latvia during the Soviet occupation regime

Suitcase in which more than 30 000 files of repressed persons were carried from the National Archives to the Supreme Court and back for review in the Rehabilitation Division

Participants and instructors of the Latvian Military Lawyers' Course in 1922

First oath-taking of judges of the restored Supreme Court of the Republic of Latvia in April 8, 1991

Memoirs written by Aija Čakste of her father Senator Mintauts Čakste

Editions of Penal Law of 1933 – from pocket editions to books containing extensive indexes of contents and comments

Sketches for projects of a new Supreme Court building in 1991

The Order of the Three Stars Diploma awarded to Senator August Loeber

An extract of a letter of Senator Jānis Skudre (a then-student) to his mother

May 16, 1990 – the restoration day of the Supreme Court of Latvia

Family tree created by Senator Voldemārs Zāmuels

Donations of Senator Andris Guļāns to the Supreme Court Museum

Senators that were repressed in 1941: Teodors Bergtāls, Kārlis Ducmanis, Jēkabs Grots, Osvalsd Ozoliņš, Jānis Skudre, Fridrihs Vesmanis, Fricis Zilbers

Midsummer celebration at Senator Jānis Skudre's home in 1939

Senators and judges of the Court Chamber attend dinner at the Riga Latvian Society House on April 10, 1938

Invitations by Presidents of Latvia addressed to Senators

Index cards of lay judges

Senator's certificate of Maksis Ratermanis

A fragment of the metal fencing once installed in courtrooms for criminal cases

Creation of the Memorandum of the World Federation of Free Latvians (WFLA) on the restoration of freedom and independence in Latvia in connection with the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in Helsinki in 1973

Folders containing information about senators and a book about Supreme Court presidents

Three senators who had worked as ministers

Historic chair of the Palace of Justice displayed at the Supreme Court Museum

Senator Teodors Bergtāls visited his first school – Valdemārpils Primary School. Graduation year 1935/1936

Chairs of the Senate's General Assembly during their law studies in Moscow University (1892-1904)

Vilnis Vietnieks was not only a judge specialized in criminal law, but also a poet

Greeting cards received by senators on various occasions in 1930s

September 30, 1988 – a trial written in the Latvian history in letters of gold

Insignia of judges during the interwar period

An oak tree planted in memory of Senator Kristaps Valters which encouraged the great grand-daughter of the Senator to come to Latvia for a visit

Supreme Court Bulletin – a magazine with history

Official Gazette of the Ministry of Justice and the magazine “Jurists” - most prominent legal publications during interwar Latvia

When everything was written by hand...

Dismissal of the Latvian Senate on November 11, 1940

Judgements of the Latvian Senate on behalf of Latvian people in 1920s and 1930s

Book “Adventures of the Sausage” - a social satire written by Jānis Ankravs

Laying of foundation stone of the Palace of Justice on December 4, 1936. Consecration of the building and commencement of work on December 9, 1938

Robe of the Constitutional Court judge displayed at the Supreme Court Museum

Collection of law books of Senator Augusts Rumpēters

A special gift to the Museum – Temporary regulation of Latvian courts and litigation process

Themis Awards to people working at the Supreme Court for their special contributions