Veronika Krumina, the Chair of the Department of Administrative Cases of the Senate, indicated in her report on the work of the department that 2011 was the second year in history of the department (the first one was 2009), when number of cases reviewed was bigger than number of cases received, and it means that the department has begun to decrease accumulation of cases gradually.

In 2011, municipalities were responding institutions in the greatest number of cases that were reviewed by the Department of Administrative Cases of the Senate. In comparison with 2010, number of cases increased, in which State Revenue Service and Latvian Prison Administration were external institutions. In eight cases, the Senate addressed the European Court of Justice, asking prejudicial questions. Most of these cases are related to issues about taxes or Rural Support Service.

In five cases, the Department addressed an application to the Constitutional Court. The Chair of the Department, when analysing this experience, concluded that unwanted trend has been marked that might be called as weakness of dialogue between courts and the Constitutional Court, and she suggested to organise a discussion among judges of what interrelations of courts should be, what role is given to each court in strengthening Latvia as state subject to the rule of law.  

V.Krumina also paid attention to incorrespondence of politicians’ words to their works: although politicians in their words and programmes are imbued with determination to find solution for leng terms of review of administrative cases, but their works arenot indicative of it. The senator pointed out – although necessity to start discussion about amendments to the Administrative Procedure Law developed to speed up review of cases, that were drafted and submitted to the Saeima swiftly was discussed in the previous reporting plenary session, nothing has been initiated still – neither work in subcommittee, nor in the committee.

As an achievement of previous year, the Chair of the department mentioned that at present the case is given to an assignments sitting in the Department of Administrative Cases of the Senate in 1-2 weeks since it is delivered to the court. Thus, participants of proceedings get a response from the Senate, if there is a refusal in the case to initiate cassation proceedings or the cassation complaint will be reviewed, comparatively fast. In previous years, the case lined up for its turn to assignments sitting for at leats 2-4 months. However, the fact that the case has been arranged for a hearing only in 7-9 months after its receipt in the court is mentioned as advancement necessary.

As valuable innovation of year 2011 in work of the Supreme Court, V.Kruminapointed out run of judicial conference, as in the second part of it work was performed in sections, and section of administrative law was one of them. As another successful beginning of previous year, V.Krumina also indicated a new form to provide information to media about legal issues being reviewed in regular court hearing. In relation to informing society, the department also continued cooperation with schools.

The Chair of the Department of Administrative Cases considers extended use of electronic means of communication and improvements of precision and availability of Court Information System data to be necessary for further work.  

929 cases were received in the Department of Administrative Cases of the Senate, 963 cases were reviewed, and number of cases pending was 267 cases by the end of previous year.

 

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