News

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.

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.