In 2011, number of cases pending had decreased both in the Chamber of Civil cases and in the Chamber of Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court. At the end of previous year, 1214 civil cases were pending in the Chamber of the Civil Cases, and it is for 103 cases less than at the end of 2010; however, 326 criminal cases were pending in the Chamber of Criminal Cases and it is for 49 cases less than at the end of 2010.

Gunars Aigars, the Chair of the Chamber of Civil Cases, pointed out in his report on work of the chamber in 2011 that number of cases heard was for 313 cases more than that in 2010.  These positive indices could be explained with increase of number of judges up to fifteen judges, thus five complete compositions of court had worked, firstly. Secondly, amendments to the Civil Procedure Law, which provide reviewing ancillary complaints in written proceedings, also promoted faster turnover of cases. This legal norm has increased review of cases significantly for the Chamber of Civil Cases, as appellate complaints were submitted in 454 cases of those reviewed in appellate proceedings, and ancillary complaints were submitted in 1251 cases.

G.Aigars indicated completing number of assistants to judges and secretaries of court hearings according to number of judges and suspension of labour turnover in the chancery of the Chamber of Civil Cases as the problem to be solved. The Chair of the Chamber also pointed out a necessity for stable case law of the Senate, as well as increase of responsibility of litigators and advocates for advancement of proceedings.

In his turn, Ervins Kuskis, the Chair of the Chamber of Criminal Cases, pointed out that number of cases received in the Chamber of Criminal Cases decreased significantly in 2011 – 317 cases were received in 2010 and 242 cases – in 2011, so, notwithstanding 186 cases delayed, number of cases reviewed was bigger than number of cases received.   

The Chair of the Chamber of Criminal Cases also marked gradual reduction of operation of the Chamber, taking into account transition marked by legislators to clear three-level court system in criminal cases and liquidation of the Chamber of Criminal Cases: as from July, 2012, the Chamber of Criminal Cases will continue its work in two compositions of the court, in its turn, as from 2013, only 6 judges will stay in the Chamber, and, as E.Kuskis said, it will be “the beginning of the end of the Chamber”. Judges of the Chamber of Criminal Cases believe that concrete date of “liquidation” oof the chamber should be stated in the law rather than to wait until all cases received would be heard. After this date, which is recommended by the chamber to be the 1st of January, 2015, all cases pending would be given to review in courts of appellate instance.    

Ivars Bickovics, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, when supplementing information about future of court chambers, gave insight into suggestions of the Ministry of Justice. Further career of judges of court chambers can be made either in composition of the Senate, or, upon their consent – in regional courts, keeping wages of a judge of the Supreme Court. The suggestion of the Ministry is to perform liquidation of the Chamber of Criminal Cases faster, is term established, according to amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law, not linking it with liquidation of the Chamber of Civil Cases, which has to be liquidated gradually, according with peacemeal amendments to the Civil Procedure Law.  I.Bickovics pointed out that question on reorganisation of court system will be reviewed also by the Council of Justice, and opinion of judges of the Supreme Court will be important.    

  

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