Every person whose rights and freedoms are violated has the right of recourse to the courts. In all other regions, administrative matters are dealt with by special administrative judges of county and city courts. Under the new Administrative Court Procedures Act of 1999, a reform of the administrative court system is foreseen. According to this law, by 2001 administrative courts will be created in all regions. In 1998, the courts of first instance received 1549 administrative cases for examination.
District courts are courts of appeal reviewing judgements of the courts of first instance.
There are three district courts in Estonia, of which one, located in Tallinn, deals with administrative matters. In 1998 it reviewed 562 administrative judgements. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the state, and it reviews court judgements by way of the last instance appeal procedure. The Supreme Court is also the court of constitutional review. The Constitutional Review Chamber is composed of the president of the Supreme Court ex officio and four members elected by the Supreme Court en banc on the proposal of the president of the Supreme Court.