The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:

Law on the Judicial Academy

Section 1. Purpose of the Law

The purpose of the Law is to ensure a sustainable and effective training system for the qualitative performance of the judicial and prosecutorial functions by establishing the Judicial Academy (hereinafter - the Academy).

Section 2. Status and Operation of the Academy

(1) The Academy shall be a derived public entity.

(2) The Cabinet shall, through the Minister for Justice, exercise the institutional supervision of the Academy to the extent and in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law. The Judicial Council shall exercise the functional supervision of the Academy.

(3) The Academy shall plan, organise, and conduct trainings for judges and court employees, prosecutors, and employees of prosecutor's office who provide legal support in the fulfilment of the duties of a prosecutor, and also to investigators in issues that are relevant for effective administration of justice (hereinafter - the target groups).

Section 3. Tasks and Rights of the Academy

(1) In order to achieve the purpose of this Law, the Academy shall:

1) provide trainings for the target groups when commencing the fulfilment of their official duties (initial training) and training for the improvement of professional knowledge, skills, and personal competencies, and also for supporting the personal development;

2) ensure the development of the skills of judges and prosecutors as the trainers for training activities;

3) create, maintain, and develop an environment suitable for trainings;

4) explore training needs, prepare a corresponding plan for training and personal development activities and training programmes;

5) organise the conducting of research to promote the work efficiency of courts and prosecutor's office;

6) implement international cooperation with providers of trainings for judges and prosecutors and participate in international projects within the limits of its competence;

7) may provide trainings for applicants for the position of a judge and prosecutor for a charge;

8) may provide trainings for other professionals associated with the field of justice for a charge;

9) may provide paid services;

10) carry out other tasks specified in this Law.

(2) The Academy shall process personal data of the participants of training activities that are necessary for the fulfilment of the tasks specified in Paragraph one of this Section when planning, organising, and conducting training for the target groups.

Section 4. Reimbursement of Training Fees

(1) If a judge or prosecutor has received a positive initial evaluation of his or her professional activity in accordance with the procedures laid down by the law and has participated in the training for applicants for the position of a judge or prosecutor organised by the Academy not later than two years before appointment or approval to the position, the director of the Academy shall decide on the reimbursement of training fees based on the submission of the judge or prosecutor.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for reimbursing the training fees to applicants for the position of a judge or prosecutor and the amount of the training fee to be reimbursed.

Section 5. Director of the Academy

(1) The Cabinet shall appoint the director of the Academy to the position for five years. The same person may be the director of the Academy for not more than two successive terms. The Minister for Justice shall nominate a candidate for the position of the director of the Academy upon proposal of the Judicial Council.

(2) The administrative body of the Academy shall be the director who leads and represents the Academy.

(3) The director of the Academy shall:

1) determine the structure of the Academy and approve the by-laws of the Academy;

2) hire and dismiss employees of the Academy;

3) ensure the development and implementation of the operational strategy of the Academy;

4) organise the development of training programmes and training plan;

5) submit the annual training plan prepared by the Academy, and also the developed or updated training programmes for approval to the Judicial Council by 1 May of the current year;

6) prepare an activity report of the Academy for the academic year;

7) carry out other tasks specified in this Law.

(4) The Cabinet shall, upon hearing the opinion of the Judicial Council, specify the requirements for an applicant for the position of the director of the Academy and announce an open competition for the position of the director of the Academy. The Judicial Council shall determine the provisions and procedures for submitting the applications of the applicants for the position of the director of the Academy, and also the procedures for the selection and evaluation of applicants. A commission established by the Judicial Council shall select the applicants for the position of the director of the Academy. The commission shall include an equal number of representatives of the judiciary and the executive power.

(5) A person who conforms to the following requirements may be the director of the Academy:

1) has impeccable reputation;

2) is a citizen of Latvia;

3) has the highest level of proficiency in the official language;

4) has obtained at least a second-cycle higher education, and also professional experience appropriate for the performance of professional duties;

5) understands the operational principles and values of the justice system.

(6) The Cabinet may, upon the proposal of the Minister for Justice, dismiss the director of the Academy before the end of the term of office if he or she:

1) has submitted a resignation from the position;

2) has committed an intentional violation of law or negligence during the performance of his or her duties, and thus caused damage to the State or a person;

3) has failed to comply with the restrictions and prohibitions specified in the law On Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials, and thus caused damage to the State or a person;

4) has not fulfilled, due to incapacity for work, his or her professional duties for more than four months in succession or for more than six months within the period of one year if the incapacity for work has repeated with interruptions. Prenatal and maternity leave, and also the period of incapacity for work shall not be included in this period if the reason for the incapacity for work is pregnancy, an accident at work, or an occupational disease;

5) does not conform to the requirements laid down for the position of the director of the Academy or fails to fulfil his or her duties without a justified reason.

Section 6. By-laws of the Academy

The structure of the Academy, the tasks of its units, and the scope of data to be processed referred to in Section 3, Paragraph two of this Law shall be determined in the by-laws of the Academy.

Section 7. Personnel of the Academy and Remuneration Thereof

(1) The monthly wage of the director of the Academy shall be determined by the Judicial Council in accordance with the Law on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local Government Authorities.

(2) The monthly wage of employees of the Academy shall be determined by the director of the Academy.

Section 8. Competence of the Judicial Council

The Judicial Council shall perform the following tasks:

1) determine the strategic objectives and directions for training;

2) approve the operational strategy of the Academy and supervise the implementation thereof;

3) determine the principles for the development of training programmes;

4) determine the procedures for selecting trainers for training activities from among judges and prosecutors;

5) approve training programmes and the annual training plan;

6) hear the annual activity report for the academic year presented by the director of the Academy and, if necessary, provide recommendations for the improvement of the work;

7) provide an opinion to the director of the Academy on the draft budget of the Academy;

8) carry out other tasks specified in this Law.

Section 9. Check of the Lawfulness of an Administrative Act or Actual Action

An administrative act issued by or actual action of the director of the Academy may be appealed before court in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law.

Section 10. Reports on the Operation of the Academy

(1) The director of the Academy shall, on an annual basis, submit a report to the Judicial Council on the performance of the Academy's functions and work results in the previous calendar year, the use of the allocated State budget funds, and the provided paid services.

(2) The Academy shall prepare a public annual statement and provide reports on the use of budget funds in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations.

Section 11. Financing of the Academy

(1) The financial resources of the Academy shall consist of the following:

1) financing from the State budget to ensure the operations of the Academy and the fulfilment of the tasks specified in this Law;

2) donations and gifts of legal and natural persons, including foreign legal and natural persons;

3) financial assistance of foreign and international organisations;

4) revenues from paid services and other own revenues.

(2) When providing for the financing necessary for the implementation of training in the State budget law in accordance with the State budget possibilities, the need to ensure a sustainable and effective training system for the performance of judicial and prosecutorial functions shall be taken into account by following the principle of judicial independence.

(3) The director of the Academy shall submit the draft budgetary request of the Academy to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice shall include the draft budgetary request of the Academy in the draft budgetary request of district (city) courts and regional courts.

Transitional Provision

The Academy shall commence its operation on 1 January 2025.

The Law shall come into force on the day following its proclamation.

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 24 October 2024.

Acting for the President -
Chairperson of the Saeima D. Mieriņa

Rīga, 31 October 2024

---

¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2025 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)