The average forecasted length of proceedings in the Senate in 2025 is as follows: 18 months for civil cases, 10 months for criminal cases and 24 months for administrative cases. This is according to the standard of length of court proceedings approved by the Judicial Council.

However, this time-frame does not apply to all cases that reach the Senate. The time limits for examining a case at an assignment hearing, at which it is decided whether the case is admitted or refused (and thus it is closed) for examination in the Senate, are planned to be much shorter: 5 months for civil cases, 3 months for criminal cases and 6 months for administrative cases. Such cases account for about 71% of the cases received in the Senate (the percentage varies from one department to another).

The length of proceedings in the Senate have not changed compared with the previous year. Only the Department of Civil Cases has foreseen a shorter period of time needed for processing a case for an assignment hearing at which it is decided whether to initiate cassation proceedings or to close the case with a refusal. Last year, this time was planned at 6 months, this year at 5 months.

The actual timeframes for examination of cases in 2024 differed from the planned ones, however – they were shorter. For cases heard in cassation by the Department of Civil Cases, it was 15.4 months, by the Department of Criminal Cases – 9 months, and by the Department of Administrative Cases – 23.9 months.

In determining the time limits for the length of proceedings for this year, account has been taken of both the actual figures for the previous year and the projected factors which may affect the time limits for this year.

Overall standards for the examination of cases in 2025

 

Information prepared by

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

E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: +371 67020396, +371 28652211