“Shadows” of the Supreme Court participate in court hearing

Having learned about Latvia’s court system and structure of the Supreme Court “shadows” went to court hearing in the Chamber of Criminal Cases. Before the hearing the judge Ludmila Polakova told them about litigation proceedings in criminal cases and progress of the concrete case. Then pupils might follow proceedings. The court started court hearing previous day and “shadows” participated in continuation of proceedings, in which court tried to view several CDs with control records due requests expressed by parties. Pupils admitted that this process is boring in some way, but it helps to understand that there is not only active operation in court hearing, but also lasting and monotonous work is to be done.  

Later our “shadows” joined almost 60 pupils of Forms 12 of Gymnasium of Northern Countries who arrived to lesson of law conducted by Veronika Krumina, the Chair of the Department of Administrative Cases of the Senate. Both pupils of Gymnasium of Northern Countries and “shadows” admitted that this lesson was interesting and they didn’t expect that it is possible to tell about serious and difficult issues in such simple and understandable manner which at the same time is extended and details.  

Then “shadows” went to their “shadow givers” – senators Peteris Dzalbe, Valerijans Jonikans, Inara Garda, Rudite Vidusa, Jautrite Briede and the judge Anita Polakova. Arlita Zarina, the assistant to senator of the Department of Administrative Cases of the Senate had two “shadows”, as well as the Division of Communication. Pupils appreciated conversations with their “shadow givers” and admitted that they would like to talk more but there is much information received and some time is necessary to “arrange” everything. Pupils were glad about modesty, intelligence and involvement of judges and court employees.

Then pupils visited the museum of the Supreme Court and the Palace of Justice, meeting Ivars Bickovics, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, at the end of the day. The Chief Justice when speaking on profession of lawyer, told that choosing among professions of lawyer, historian and journalist in secondary school, decided to enter the Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia, and he has never regretted it. Although work of judge is hard psychologically, as decisions made are always unpleasant for one of parties, but it is very interesting job. “Work of judge lacks routine, as there are no two similar cases”, said the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

There were also other “shadows” in the Supreme Court. However, the bureau of sworn advocates “Varul”, asked to bring their “shadows” to a court hearing in the Department of administrative Cases of the Senate. In order to get ready for hearing, the Department had prepared brief description of case to be heard in advance, and Veronika Krumina before the hearing told pupils about trial in administrative cases. After hearing advocates of bureau discussed trial with pupils and asked them to prepare arguments of a party individually.

Information prepared by
The Division of Communication of the Supreme Court
E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 67020396, 28652211