On June 27, the Judicial Qualifications Committee gave positive assessment of professional activity to twenty judges of the Supreme Court, among them – also to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Thus, the first assessment of professional activity of judges of the Supreme Court has almost been finished, as rest of judges had received positive assessment in previous sittings of the Judicial Qualifications Committee.  

“This procedure and assessment of judges proves the fact that judges of the Supreme Court, despite their great working experience and competence, still think about professional perfection and development,” thus Ivars Bickovics, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, appreciates positive assessment of professional activity of judges.

When performing evaluation, last five-year period of judge’s activity was taken into account. 

When evaluating professional activity of judges of the Supreme Court, the Judicial Qualifications Committee took into account self-assessment of professional activity of a judge and references given by the Chair of the corresponding department or court chamber of the Supreme Court on judges’ work, and other acquired information on judge’s work. Significant importance was given to judge’s activity in respect of perfection of qualification.  

In accordance with amendments to the law “On Judicial Power”, as from 1 January 2013,  evaluation of professional activity of all judges has been commenced to promote continuing education of a judge during all judge’s career, thus improving quality of work of a judge and of a court, in general.  The Judicial Qualifications Committee performs regular evaluation of professional activity of a judge once in five years after confirmation of a judge in the office without limitation of term of office. The Committee has to perform the first regular evaluation of professional activity of judges from 1 January 2013 until 1 January 2016.  

 

 

Information prepared by

Rasma Zvejniece, the Head of the Division of Communication of the Supreme Court

E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 67020396, 28652211