The Judicial Qualification Committee is a judicial self-government institution which performs assessment of professional activity of judges
Basis of authority
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Law “On Judicial Power”
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Regulations of the Judicial Qualification Committee – approved by the Council for the Judiciary
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Regulations by the Cabinet of Ministers “Procedure by which candidates for the position of a judge shall be selected, apprentice and take qualification examinations”
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Regulations approved by the Judicial Council: Regulations of an open competition for selection of candidates to the office of a judge of the Supreme Court; Regulations of a competition for selection of a judge of a district (city) court and regional court
Composition
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Composed of 9 judges – three judges of the Supreme Court (by one from among judges adjudicating civil cases, criminal cases and administrative cases), three judges from regional courts (by one from the Judicial Panel of Civil Cases and the Judicial Panel of Criminal Cases, and the Administrative regional court), two judges of district (city) courts and one judge – from Land Registry office.
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Elected for the term of 4 years at the Judges’ Conference
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Current composition:
Māris VĪGANTS, Chair of the Administrative Regional Court, Chair of the Judicial Qualification Committee (elected on November 2, 2021)
Silva REINHOLDE, Chair of Kurzeme Regional Court, Deputy Chair of the Judicial Qualification Committee (elected on October 6, 2020)
Rudīte VĪDUŠA, Judge of the Department of Administrative Cases of the Supreme Court (elected on September 18, 2018)
Aivars KEIŠS, Judge of the Department of Civil Cases of the Supreme Court (elected on September 18, 2018)
Artūrs FREIBERGS, Judge of the Department of Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court (elected on February 28, 2019)
Marianna TERJUHANA, Judge of Zemgale Regional Court (elected on November 5, 2019)
Kristīne ZDANOVSKA, Judge of Riga City Vidzeme District Court (elected on October 6, 2020)
Ināra ZARIŅA, Head of the Land Registry Office of Riga District Court (elected on October 4, 2020)
Inga ZĀLĪTE, Judge of Zemgale District Court in Aizkraukle (elected on April 7, 2020)
Functions of the Judicial Qualification Committee
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Regularly assesses judge's professional activity before nominating a district (city) court judge for re-appointment or confirmation without limitation of the term of office
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Assesses the professional activity of a judge and, if necessary, the judge's professional preparedness for a vacant position of a judge, if the judge applies to be transferred to another district (city) court or regional court or their courthouses, or a district (city) court applies for replacement of a judge of regional court during the vacancy or absence of a judge. If several candidates who have received a positive opinion apply for one vacancy, the Judicial Qualification Committee shall adopt a motivated decision and transfer the most suitable candidate.
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Performs an assessment of all judges' professional activities every 5 years.
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Carries out an extraordinary assessment of a judge's professional activity when deciding on the transfer or replacement of a judge, as well as on the basis of a decision of the Judicial Disciplinary Committee or upon a proposal of the President of the Court
Appeal against decisions
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The judge may appeal the statement of the Judicial Qualification Committee to the Disciplinary Court
Accessibility of statements and assessment materials
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Committee’s statements and assessment materials are classified information
Contact information
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Court Administration: Inara Makarova, Public relations specialist: +371 29299565, inara.makarova@ta.gov.lv