In historically significant day – on the 94th anniversary of the Senate, which is on the 19th of December, last group of students of this year from the University of Latvia visited the Supreme Court, getting acquainted with operation of court system and the Supreme Court and visiting historical Palace of Justice. After excursion of this day students admitted that it was the most valuable day of the term, as they were given an opportunity to meet Ivars Bickovics, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, to see court museum and even could see the proclamation of a ruling in the Chamber of Criminal Cases.

Within Days of first-year students, as from September 12 groups, that is approximately 350 students, from the University of Latvia, Riga University named by P.Stradins, Daugavpils University, Business High School Turiba, Rezekne High School, Baltic International Academy, Law College and Valmiera secondary school, visited the Supreme Court.   

Students met Ivars Bickovics, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. It was useful for students to hear his story about Latvian court system, topical issues of court work and personal experience of judicial career.  The Chief Justice also answered to different questions asked by students.

In the second part of the visit, students visited the museum of the Supreme Court and listened to story of the Senate of Latvia, Latvian court system in years of occupation and restoration of the Supreme Court of the independent Republic of Latvia. When being on excursion in the Palace of Justice, students saw court rooms, also the historical Senate room, and made photos besides symbol of Latvian judiciary – sculpture of K.Zemdega “Justice”.

For single groups of students and pupils programme of visiting the Supreme Court was created a bit different, according to their interests. For example, Veronika Krumina, the Chair of the Department of Administrative Cases of the Senate, met pupils of Riga Pupil Council, and she told them about court system in general and about administrative cases. However, narration of the senator Krumina about administrative cases related to accessibility of information in government and municipal institutions was very useful for students of journalism studies of the University of Latvia.

Days of first-year students are organised in the Supreme Court for the fourth year. The goal of the Days of first-year students is to extend understanding and interest of lawyers to-be to the Latvian court system and allow them to have a look into one of the most interesting, and at the same time one of the most difficult legal professions – post of the judge.

Information prepared by Baiba Kataja, the Press-secretary of the Supreme Court

E-mail: baiba.kataja@at.gov.lv, telephone: 7020396, 2865221