News

The Yearbook of Estonian Courts 2020 is dedicated to the publicity of administration of justice and the closely related data protection issues.

Approved in a written meeting of the Council for Administration of Courts between 2 and 5 February 2021.

The Supreme Court en banc rejected the petition of the President of the Republic to declare the law being the basis of the mandatory funded pension reform unconstitutional.

Review concerning courts administration, administration of justice and the uniform application of law during the emergency situation

Published in electronic format for the first time, the Yearbook of the Estonian Courts investigates, among other things, information technology developments in Estonian courts, the related trouble and increase in happiness of the judges, and what the future administration of justice could look like in a world that is becoming ever more digitalis

The Supreme Court of Estonia granted the appeal in cassation of environmental groups ARB and Estonian Society for Nature Conservation in part and annulled the Pärnu county plan for the Rail Baltic route in sections 3A, 4A and 4H of the route. The county plans for Harju and Rapla county remain in force.

The Council for the Administration of Courts (KHN) gave recommendations on how to organize the work of the courts during the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus and the state of emergency declared in Estonia. Written procedures and the use of technical solutions are preferred.

The eleventh Yearbook of Courts analyses the independence of the judicial system as a branch of power. The yearbook covers the essence of the independence of the judicial power, the reasons why it is necessary for the functioning of democracy and the means used for guaranteeing the autonomy.

In a session late last night, 26 June, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) elected Peeter Roosma with absolute majority as the next Estonian judge in the European Court of Human Rights. Peeter Roosma is a judge of the Supreme Court of Estonia.

Friday’s judgment of the Supreme Court en banc declared the part of the Aliens Act that precludes granting temporary residence permits to same-sex registered partners of Estonian citizens for leading family life in Estonia unconstitutional and invalid.

The newly published Justice Scoreboard 2019 once again ranks Estonia second in the European Union in terms of the efficiency of the justice system and the speed of proceedings.

On the morning of 5 February, the Supreme Court en banc appointed the new Chairman of the Civil Chamber. This occurred due to the former Chairman of the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court, Villu Kõve, being appointed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

On 31 January, the Riigikogu released the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Priit Pikamäe from office and appointed Villu Kõve to this position. Kõve assumed the office of Chief Justice on 4 February.

18-19 October, Tallinn will host a round table of the Supreme Administrative Courts of Europe, focusing on fair judicial proceedings. The meeting will be attended by judges from 25 European countries.

During the week of 1 to 7 October, the courts will give advice and useful recommendations for everyday life situations that have become overly complicated.

The next Yearbook of the Courts concentrates on the relationship between Estonian and European law. In addition, an overview of the proceedings statistics for 2017 is given.

Heiki Loot, who has held the post of State Secretary until now, will start his new position at the Administrative Law Chamber of the Supreme Court on 3 December.

The most recent Justice Scoreboard 2018 of European justice systems confirms that the Estonian justice system continues to be among the most efficient in Europe. In terms of the speed of adjudicating court cases, we ranked second among 28 states and placed first in terms of communication through digital and social media.

In a court order dated 10.04.2018, the Supreme Court has explained that regardless of the lack of implementing acts, the Registered Partnership Act entered into force on 1 January 2016 and is now a part of the Estonian legal order.

The compilation titled “Kohtunikud, kohtu-uurijad ja prokurörid 1918–1940” (Judges, Court Investigators and Prosecutors 1918–1940) will be given as a present by the Supreme Court and the Office of the Prosecutor General to a hundred libraries and information centres, in order to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.