Before the State proclamation holiday, Senator Roberts Guntis Namatevs of the Department of Civil Cases of the Supreme Court will receive the highest award of the Ministry of Justice – I grade Diploma and the “golden” pen. The award is conferred for contribution in strengthening of lawful order and development of unified court practice in Latvia.

Roberts Guntis Namatevs has devoted 42 years of his life to the work of a judge. In 1965, he started to work as a judge of the Riga Region people’s court, but after six years he was confirmed in the position of the chairman of the court. In 1976, he was elected to the position of a judge in the Chamber of Civil Cases of the Supreme Court. In 1995, when the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court formed a new court structure, R. Namatevs was confirmed as the Senator of the Department of Civil Cases.

Senator Namatevs is a judge with extensive theoretical knowledge and great experience of practical work, a leading specialist in cases regarding indemnification for harm caused to health and property, and cases regarding ownership rights. Senator applies skillfully his ample experience when reviewing cases under the procedure of cassation and upon protests on effective court rulings, as well as hearing cases of complaints on decisions of the State Control Council.

R. Namatevs has devoted his time to educate new judges and prospective lawyers, he has been a lecturer in the University of Latvia, the Judicial Training Center, for judges of district and regional courts. He has taken an active part in work groups working out amendments to the Civil Law and the Civil Procedure Law.

In 1990, R. Namatevs was conferred the highest grade of qualification. Taking into account the great experience and competence of the Senator, the Judicial Qualifications Committee expressed positive opinion that R. Namatevs remains in the position of the Supreme Court Senator after reaching the maximum age limit for judges.

Colleagues speak about Namatevs as an active lawyer having versatile knowledge who has won respect due to his activity, adherence to principles, and accuracy. At the present moment R. Namatēvs presides over a work group formed by the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court the assignment of which is to assess ethics of activities of those judges who possibly might be involved in the phone calls tapping scandal.

 

Ratniece is honoured for her lifelong contribution to the development of law system

For her contribution to the development of the Latvian law system, six retired judges will receive Diplomas of the Ministry of Justice. One of them – Vija Ratniece – since this August works as a consultant in the Division of Case-law of the Supreme Court. In her lifetime, V. Ratniece has worked in the Presidium of the Bar Association, for twelve years she held the position of a judge in the Riga Centra District Court and Jurmala City court.

 

 

 

Information prepared by Division of Communications of the Supreme Court
Author: Rasma Zvejniece, Manager of the Division of Communications of the Supreme Court
E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 7020396, 28652211