- Senators of the Supreme Court in February, 2025. 1st row from left: Rudīte Vīduša, Ināra Garda, Anita Poļakova, Aigars Strupišs, Normunds Salenieks, Anita Kovaļevska, Inguna Radzeviča, Ivars Bičkovičs. 2nd row: Valerijs Maksimovs, Zane Pētersone, Kristīne Zīle, Irīna Jansone, Ļubova Kušnire, Vēsma Kakste, Diāna Makarova, Sanita Osipova, Sandra Kaija, Līvija Slica, Gvido Ungurs. 3rd row: Aldis Laviņš, Intars Bisters, Inese Grauda, Ieva Višķere, Dzintra Amerika, Indra Meldere, Inese Laura Zemīte, Dzintra Balta, Laura Konošonoka, Aivars Uminskis, Jānis Pleps (Marika Senkāne, Erlens Kalniņš, Ermīns Darapoļskis, Aija Branta, Kaspars Balodis are absent)
The judges or senators of the Senate ensure the basic function of the Senate – the hearing of civil, criminal and administrative cases at the highest court instance.
Number of senators
The total number of Senate's senators is set by the Saeima (parliament), upon recommendation of the Judicial Council, and the number of senators in Departments is set by the Judicial Council, upon proposal of the President of the Supreme Court.
The number of senators approved by the parliament is 36.
Statutory age for becoming a senator
A person may become a sentor of the Supreme Court at the age of 40. The maximum age for serving as a senator is 70 years.
Selection of senators
The selection of candidates for the position of senator takes place in an open competition of candidates in accordance with the procedure approved by the Judicial Council.
The goal of the selection of candidates for the position of Supreme Court judge is to ensure that the best and most experienced Latvian lawyers who not only meet the general standard of the position of judge, but who have also made a significant contribution to the development of jurisprudence, who have professional authority in the legal community and who are thereby able to contribute to maintaining and developing the high standards of the court of cassation become Supreme Court judges.
A candidate for the office of a senator of the Senate may be:
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a judge of a district (city) court or a judge of a regional court with at least 10 years of total service in the judicial office;
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a person who has at least 15 years of total work experience as an academic member of a higher education establishement specializing in law, a sworn advocate or a prosecutor.
Prior to the organization of an open competition, former judges of the Constitutional Court, an international court or a supranational court have the opportunity to apply for the vacancy.
A senator of the Supreme Court is approved by the Saeima for an unlimited term of office; a judge of a lower instance court is transferred to a higher court by the Judicial Council.