On 11 April 2025, the Judicial Council endorsed all three candidates – the current President of the Supreme Court, Aigars Strupišs, Senator Aldis Laviņš of the Senate’s Department of Civil Cases and Senator Rudīte Vīduša of the Senate’s Department of Administrative Cases – for nomination as President of the Supreme Court for the next five-year term.
The Judicial Council adopted the decision after assessing the candidates' motivation to assume the office of President of the Supreme Court and the Chair of the Judicial Council, their reputation, communication and cooperation skills, as well as their vision of the current issues and development strategy of the Supreme Court and the Judicial Council.
The Judicial Council emphasises the role and tasks of the President of the Supreme Court as the Chair of the Judicial Council in defining the development and strategic tasks of the Latvian judicial system. It calls for consistency and continuity with regard to the choice of the candidate, based on the candidate's solid institutional experience, ability to implement the work of the Judicial Council with a clear, long-term vision and responsibility towards society and the Latvian state.
The decision on the candidate's nomination for approval at the parliament will be taken at the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to meet on 14 April 2025.
As previously reported, the term of office of Aigars Strupišs as President of the Supreme Court ends on 15 June 2025.
The Judicial Council also adopted a decision to appoint the current President of the Riga City Court, Doloresa Bambee, as Deputy President of the Court for a five-year term.
Additional information:
According to the law “On Judicial Power”, the Judicial Council hears the candidates for the position of President of the Supreme Court and gives its opinion to the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court, which further decides on the nomination of the candidate for approval by the Saeima (parliament).
The President of the Supreme Court is also the Chair of the Judicial Council.
According to the current procedure, the Judicial Council, after receiving the opinion of the Commission for the Evaluation of Candidates for the Office of the President and Deputy President of the District (City) Court and Regional Court, and the President of the Courthouse decides on the appointment of the candidate. The Commission has given a positive opinion on the suitability of Doloresa Bambere for the office of court’s deputy president.