The number of vacant judicial posts increases every year. At the end of 2023, 54 or 10% of the approved judicial posts were vacant.
In addition, the number of judges over 61 years of age is increasing. More than 28% of the current judges may retire in the next few years.
The audit concluded that the number of dismissed judges exceeds the number of appointed judges. The number of candidates who have passed the judicial selection procedure is not sufficient to fill the existing vacancies.
This means that the trend of increasing judicial vacancies may continue and the judicial system may lack judges to ensure the effective functioning of the courts.
"In order to solve these problems, it is necessary to assess the functions and organization of judges and to review the number of judges needed in Latvia," State Auditor Gatis Litvins said.
The number of vacancies for judges specializing in land registry cases is increasing every year. The audit revealed that since 2017, only two judges specializing in land registry cases have started working in the court system, while 16 judges have ceased to perform their duties.
At the end of 2023, 9 out of 71 posts of judges specializing in land registry cases, or 13%, were vacant. A further 18 judges, or 29% of the actual number of judges specializing in land registry matters, could retire in the next few years.
The reform and development of the institute of judicial assistants have been discussed in the judicial system for 20 years, but no significant progress has been achieved, the State Audit Office said in its report.
The position of an assistant judge still lacks appropriate educational requirements and competencies and responsibilities, thus undermining opportunities to raise the uncompetitive salary of an assistant judge and motivate employees, attract new qualified staff and fully utilize them to relieve the workload of a judge.
Although a system of training for judges and court staff has been established and the conditions have been created for improving the knowledge and skills of judges and court staff, one in ten judges has received training less than once a year in the last 4 years.
"Not all judges take sufficient care to improve their knowledge and skills, despite the rapid changes in society and the legal framework. Judges need to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, and this is not possible without quality training organization and active participation in training," Litvins pointed out.
The Audit has made five recommendations to improve human resource management in Latvia's judicial system.
