On August 19, training of moot court for 20 candidates to judge’s office tool place in the Supreme Court, in cooperation with Latvian Judicial Training Centre. During the training prospective judges participated in moot court.  The process was recorded and later discussed and analysed together with experienced judges – Veronika Krumina, the Chair of the Department of Administrative Cases and Dzintra Balta, the judge of Riga regional court.

The moot court still has been included in training programme designed for new judges. Usually it has been organised in premises of the Judicial Training Centre, but it has been the second year, when such court is organised in real court room, moreover, in the court room of the Supreme Court, which is particularly interesting for trainees.

Training in moot court is not only technical or legal training in accordance with procedural laws.  New judges, when playing roles in improvised court proceedings and watching it later in video record, together with instructors analyse their feelings and emotions in these proceedings, learn to tackle with agitation, doubts, and emotions, hear practical advice, for example, in developing of skilful contact with parties to court proceedings and technique of reading of a judgement.

The Judicial Training Centre forms programme of New Judges’ Training Week as abilities’ seminars, at which new judges are provided an opportunity to acquire skills, which are not stipulated by legal provisions and which are not included in programmes of law studies and judicial training seminars. Thus, at seminars judges master skills of communication and solution of conflicts, different practical abilities, issues related to judicial ethics are also discussed to help a new judge to become a good judge.

Judges and trainees for the office of a judge from Riga city Latgale suburb court, Riga city Zemgale suburb court, Riga city Kurzeme district court, Riga regional court, Kurzeme regional court, Zemgale regional court, Ogre district court, Jelgava court, Tukums district court and Jekabpils district court participated in New Judges’ Programme. Some of candidates to the office of a judge have already passed an exam in the Judicial Qualification Committee and will be able to apply their newly acquired knowledge in daily work. Most of candidates will have to pass an exam yet.

Information prepared by Baiba Kataja, the Press secretary of the Supreme Court
Telephone 67020396; e-mail: baiba.kataja@at.gov.lv