The Chamber of Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court continues its work also after July 1, when amendments of the Criminal Procedure Law came into force. These amendments prescribe implementation of so called “clear court instances” in criminal procedure, abjuring hearing cases in the Chamber of Criminal Cases.

The Chamber of Criminal Cases will proceed with reviewing cases already being in its proceedings; however, pursuant to Item 34 of Transitional Provisions the Chamber of Criminal Cases as an appellate instance will review rulings appealed in cases given for review to regional courts as to courts of the first instance according to subordination established until June 30, 2012.  246 cases were pending in the Chamber of Criminal Cases on the 2nd of July; however, according to statistical data of Court Information System, 128 criminal cases were pending in regional courts as in the first instance court for the 30th of June.

As from August 2012, eight judges will work in the Chamber of Criminal Cases, but this number will be reduced till six judges in 2013, and there will be two compositions of court only.  

Further, as from the 1st of July, all criminal cases will be heard by district (city) court as by the court of the first instance, all cases appealed against in appellate proceedings will be reviewed by regional courts, and ruling of any court appealed against in cassation proceedings will be reviewed by the Senate of the Supreme Court.

 

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