On Wednesday, the 16th of February, in Shadow Day (the day when secondary schools pupils may follow state officials mainly to get familiar with their job) thirteen secondary school pupils from Riga, Lizums and Varaklani got acquainted with work of judges, assistants to judges and also the Division of Communication of the Supreme Court.

After short acquaintance with the place of the Supreme Court in Latvia’s court system, “shadows” participated in court hearing in Chamber of Criminal Cases. Unfortunately, review of case, as it happens very often, was postponed due to illness of the accused. However, pupils got impression about court proceedings, and it was supplemented by narration and explanation about case review in court of appeal given by the judge Anita Polakova.

Then “shadows” went to their “shadow-givers” – senators Veronika Krumina, Andris Gulans, Inguna Radzevica, Peteris Dzalbe, Arturs Freibergs and Valerijans Jonikans to know about daily routine of the judge and ask questions in open conversations.

Pupils admitted that conversations were interesting and useful. Pupils were even a bit surprised that judges are usual and friendly people, and these meetings strengthened interest of pupils towards legal profession.

The senators also admitted that they were interested in conversation with pupils, and expressed hope that they will help young people in their responsible time of profession choice.

The most discussed question to the senator Valerijans Jonikans was about role and burden of responsibility of the judge of the court of ultimate instance. Veronika Krumina feels satisfied that her “shadows” prepared questions and showed true interest to the work of the senator. The senator Inguna Radzevica also mentions that her “shadows” participated in conversation about peculiarities of the work of judge with great interest and asked questions actively. It proves that young people treat choice of occupation very seriously and they are interested in obtaining information about work of the judge as extended as possible. “Kristaps thinks of becoming a judge in future very seriously. I hope that our conversation will help him to achieve this aim”, said the senator. The senator Andris Gulans also believes that his “shadow” has already chosen her future occupation, but she is not sure about it yet. The senator hopes that the meeting in the Supreme Court will help to make right choice.

Two other “shadows” also had useful discussions as they got acquainted with work of Arlita Zarina – the assistant to the senator of the Department of Administrative Cases of the Senate. In her turn, the “shadow” of the Division of Communication didn’t have time for conversation at all, as she had to watch intensive work of employees of the Division of Communication providing arrangement of the “Shadow Day”.

After visiting the museum of the Supreme Court and being on excursion in the Palace of Justice at the end of the day all “shadows” had a meeting with Ivars Bickovics, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice, while speaking about legal profession, told that during his studies in secondary school he had to choose among professions of lawyer, historian or journalist, and the decision was made in favour of studies in the Faculty of Law. However, the Chief Justice never regretted it. Although the work of judge is hard in psychological meaning, as decisions made will always be unpleasant for somebody, but it is very interesting and creative work – each case offers new quest of solution. “If you are interested in legal profession, if you like daily preoccupation and you don’t want to deal with monotonous routine, then work of the judge is the right place”, said the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

50 pupils submitted their applications for the Shadow Day in the Supreme Court. Invitations were sent only to those secondary school students, whose motivations included real interest for the work of lawyer or judge in the future.


Information prepared by

Head of the Division of Communications of the Supreme Court Rasma Zvejniece

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