News

By the decision of 25 January, the Supreme Court declared the fee rates stipulated in the Bailiffs Act (§ 35 (2) and (3)) unconstitutional; the decision will take effect after a period of six months.

On Monday, 18 December, the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union issued a letter to Frans Timmermans, the Vice-President of the European Commission.

On Thursday and Friday, Tallinn will host a meeting of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union Member States. The central focus will be on ensuring the separation of powers.

From today until 10 November, students in Grades 9 to 12 will have the chance to take on the role of a Justice Administrator and to solve cases like those that judges must address on a daily basis.

At the beginning of October, Estonia will be celebrating Administration of Justice Week. Everyone who registers for a consultation from 20 September to 6 October will receive legal assistance from the lawyers at Eesti Õigusbüroo without having to pay the usual contract fee.

According to the Supreme Court, the decision of the legislator to increase the excise duty rates for low-alcohol drinks faster than planned is not in breach of the Constitution.

In today's judgment, the Supreme Court explained the competence of the court in applying provisional legal protection during residence permit actions.

In a study by the ENCJ, the umbrella organisation of the European Councils for the Judiciary, 82 Estonian judges were assessed that on a scale of 1 to 10 and rated their independence as 9.

During a presentation to the parliament today, Priit Pikamäe, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, focused on the possibility of increasing the effectiveness of the system for the protection of fundamental rights. One of his proposals was that the parliamentary minority should have the right to have direct recourse in the Supreme Court.

The Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union issued a statement expressing solidarity with the judiciary of Poland.

Estonia has one of the most effective justice systems in the European Union, according to a number of indicators, as was revealed by the new Justice Scoreboard of European Justice Systems. The country is in first place in terms of digital communication; and is in second place in relation to the speed of our court proceedings.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the judiciary as a whole, are deeply disturbed by the statement made by Martin Helme, a member of the Riigikogu, at a meeting on 20 March in which he attacked the judges of Tallinn Circuit Court in relation to their judicial activities.

Kersti Kaljulaid, the President of the Republic of Estonia, has decided to bestow the 4th Class Order of the White Star on the Tartu County Court Judge, Andrus Miilaste; and on the Tallinn Circuit Court Judge, Ivi Kesküla.

The first Badges of Honour of the Courts were issued at the judicial plenary of this year. The recipients were the Tartu County Court Judges, Madis Kägu and Andrus Miilaste; and Justice of the Supreme Court, Eerik Kergandberg.

From 1 January 2017, the work of the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court has been led by Saale Laos.