Creation of the Academy of Justice – at the finish line

Starting next year, a new justice education center – Justice Academy – will open its doors in Latvia.

Under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice and the Council of Justice, the “Judicial Academy” project was launched in April 2022, with the aim of creating a unified training center for the qualifications of judges, court staff, prosecutors, improve prosecution and prosecutors. auditors by 2025.

On October 3, the Saeima gave conceptual support to the Justice Academies as an emergency billwhose final reading is expected to be seen already on October 24. At the same time, the Saeima supported related parties in the first reading changes in the “On Judge” law. They aim to encourage the involvement of judges in holding training events and to encourage judges to take on the role of mentors. The new institution is expected to start its work on January 1, 2025.

For efficiency, predictability and robust democracy

The Ministry of Justice has stated that the current system for raising qualifications for judges, court staff, prosecutors, assistant prosecutors and investigators in interdisciplinary cases is fragmented and ineffective.

“Today’s dynamic time shows that even experienced experts and experts must continuously improve themselves,” says the Minister of Justice Inese Libiņa-Egner. “Part of the knowledge and skills required by law enforcement officers can be acquired through practice, but many of them require specialized training and education. Lifelong learning in all sectors has become a requirement in today’s society. It is not so important in professions related to the judiciary, because it is not possible to have a strong democracy, good governance and sustainable development of society and the country without strong courts, the prosecutor’s office and investigation,” said the minister

So far, training of judges has been done well by the Judges Training Center, but the center’s status as a public organization creates limitations.

“These are limitations due to the budget, the inability to plan the center’s work, since the work is organized through procurement, which is often unpredictable, but the courts on stability, because only stability can ensure the independence of the courts,” explains the President of the Supreme Court Aigars Strupiš.

A similar opinion is expressed by the chairman of the Legal Commission of the Saeima Andrew Yudins: The Judicial Training Center has performed its duties admirably and has gained authority, but the legal status of this institution prevents it from being relied on in the long term. On the other hand, the Justice Academy in the future as a state institution will ensure stability and predictability, says the deputy.

The Cabinet of Ministers supervises the institution, and the Council of Justice supervises the content

The law determines the legal basis and framework of the Academy of Justice’s activities, as well as its place and corresponding status in the system of state and legal institutions. According to the draft law, the newly established educational institution is designed as a continuing education educational institution – an established public organization – to ensure high-quality judicial and prosecutorial activities.

The note of the draft law states that the mission of the Academy of Justice is:

• to provide a meaningful and targeted training service that meets the necessary needs and abilities of society and the judge, as well as the general strategic directions defined for the work of the judge;
• provide training and support measures that encourage and support the growth of the judiciary, respecting the fundamental values ​​of the judiciary;
• to be a center of excellence for the provision and promotion of continuing education of judges and legal professions in Latvia and the European Union, promoting common understanding and implementation of the rule of law in the common legal area of ​​the European Union;
• create a culture of learning as part of professional responsibility and promote a supportive environment to ensure sustainability of learning outcomes.

The director of the Academy, whose candidate will be nominated by the Minister of Justice on the recommendation of the Council of Justice, will be appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers for a term of five years.

Institutional management of the Academy of Justice will be carried out by the Cabinet of Ministers through the Minister of Justice. On the other hand, to ensure the independence of the judiciary, the Academy’s operational management will be carried out by the Council of Justice – a collegial institution that participates in the development of the policy and strategy of the legal system , as well as in the development of the work organization of the legal system.

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The Judicial Council will be responsible for matters related to content such as determining the strategic goals, direction and principles of curriculum development of the academy, as well as approving these programs and annual curriculum plans. Also, the Justice Council will determine the procedure for selecting training leaders from among judges and prosecutors, will listen to the annual report of the director of the academy on the academic year and will make recommendations to improve work performance.

The draft law provides that the financial resources of the academy will consist of state budget funding, gifts and donations from legal and natural persons, financial support from foreign and international organizations, as well as income -in from paid services and other income.

The creation of the Academy of Justice to increase the qualifications of judges and prosecutors is a priority project of the Ministry of Justice in the plan of the Recovery Fund of the European Union. The funding of the European Union Recovery Fund for the project is expected in the amount of 7.5 million euros for the entire period until 2026.

Ready to start work

If the Saeima accepts the draft law on the Academy of Justice in the final reading on October 24, it would take a little more than two months to complete the academy’s staff.

Currently, there is no reason to worry that the Saeima may not support the draft law, says A. Yudins.

The Justice Academy will start work according to schedule – January 1, 2025 – ensuring a continuous learning process for target groups, the public relations specialist of the Department of Communications of the Ministry of Justice also informs Evija Rimsane. “Target groups are already being trained, as well as preparing the 2025 training plan, so that judges, court staff, prosecutors, prosecutors and investigators can learn the improved training programs,” says the representative of the ministry.

Also the Justice Council, as confirmed by his secretariat adviser on communications matters Lana Maulinaready to perform the tasks of his ability to ensure the functioning of the Academy of Justice as a whole.

The building of the Academy of Justice will be located in Riga, on embankment 11 November 31. The two and a half floors of the five-story building will be adapted to the requirements of the Academy of Justice by March next year, informs E. . Until then, suitable temporary buildings and technological solutions will be provided for the Academy’s needs in the Court Administration building – 4 in Palace Square.