Judicial Council on September 28, 2020. First row from the left: Iveta Kruka, Andris Zutis, Aigars Strupišs, State President Egils Levits, Jānis Bordāns, Aija Āva; Second row from the left: Zigmunds Dundurs, Jānis Skrastiņš, Ilze Celmiņa, Juris Siliņš, Dzintra Balta, Juris Stukāns, Juris Jurašs, Jānis Rozenbergs
In accordance with Section 891 of the law “On Judicial Power”, the composition of the Judicial Council consists of 15 members – eight permanent members (officials) and seven elected members.
The Judicial Council has the following permanent members:
1) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;
2) The President of the Constitutional Court;
3) The Minister of Justice;
4) The Chairperson of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Saeima;
5) The Prosecutor General;
6) The Chair of the Latvian Council of Sworn Advocates;
7) The Chair of the Latvian Council of Sworn Notaries;
8) The Chair of the Latvian Council of Sworn Bailiffs.
A permanent member (official) may authorise another person for the participation in a meeting of the Judicial Council.
The Judicial Council has following elected members:
1) A judge elected by the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court; and
2) Six judges elected by a conference of judges.
The Judicial Conference elects one member of the Judicial Council from among judges of Land Registry offices; three members are elected from among judges of district (city) courts and two judges are elected from among judges of regional courts.
The term of office of an elected member of the Judicial Council shall be four years. The member may be re-elected, but not more than twice in succession The status of an elected member of the Judicial Council may not be consistent with the fulfilment of the duties of a member of the Judicial Disciplinary Committee, a member of the Disciplinary Court, a member of the Judicial Qualification Committee or a member of the Judicial Ethics Commission.
The Ombudsman and the Director of the Court Administration or the authorised representatives thereof, a representative delegated by an expert in jurisprudence approved by the Latvian Academy of Sciences, as well as representatives from associations of judges may participate in the work of the Judicial Council in an advisory capacity.
Composition of the Judicial Council:
Aigars STRUPIŠS, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Chair of the Judicial Council
Dzintra BALTA, Judge of the Supreme Court (elected 11.09.2020), Deputy Chair of the Judicial Council
Sanita OSIPOVA, President of the Constitutional Court
Jānis BORDĀNS, Minister of Justice
Juris STUKĀNS, Prosecutor General
Juris JURAŠS, Chair of the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee
Jānis ROZENBERGS, Chair of the Council of Sworn Advocates
Jānis SKRASTIŅS, Chair of the Council of Sworn Notaries
Iveta KRUKA, Chair of the Council of Sworn Bailiffs
Juris SILIŅŠ, Judge of Zemgale Regional Court (elected 08.09.2020)
Ilze CELMIŅA, Judge of Riga Regional Court (elected 16.09.2020)
Aija ĀVA, Deputy-chair of Kurzeme District Court (elected 13.11.2019)
Guntars PLORIŅŠ, Chair of Riga City Vidzeme District Valmiera Courthouse (elected 11.09.2018)
Andris ZUTIS, Judge of Rezekne City Court (elected 11.09.2018)
Līga AŠITOKA, Judge of Vidzeme District Court in Cesis (elected 10.11.2021)
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is the Chair of the Judicial Council.
The Chair of the Judicial Council manages work of the Judicial Council, convenes sittings of the Judicial Council and establishes agenda of sittings; represents the Judicial Council and signs decisions of the Judicial Council and other documents.
The Deputy Chair of the Judicial Council is elected by the Judicial Council among judges represented therein.