Source: https://www.global-regulation.com/law/estonia/607792/courts-act.html
Timestamp: 2018-02-21 19:08:55
Document Index: 228528933

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 82', '§ 371', '§ 54', '§ 32', '§ 32', '§ 58', '§ 761', '§ 77', '§ 81', '§ 82', '§ 82', '§ 1161', '§ 117', '§ 50', '§ 4', '§ 1171', '§ 1172', '§ 1173', '§ 1174', '§ 118', '§ 119', '§ 12', '§ 1291', '§ 1313', '§ 82', '§ 1372']

Link to law: https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/Riigikogu/act/516032015002/consolide
RT I 2006, 55, 411
RT I 2008, 20, 139
RT I 2008, 29, 189
RT I 2009, 4, 27
10.03.2009, applied to persons in respect to whom criminal conviction enters into force after entry into force of the Act.
enters into force on the starting date of authority of XII composition of the Riigikogu, date of entry into force changed to 01.01.2012; date of entry into force partially changed to 01.01.2013 [RT I, 28.12.2011, 1]; 01.07.2013 [RT I, 29.12.2012, 1]
01.01.2012, partially on the tenth day following the date of publication of this Act in Riigi Teataja.
RT I, 29.12.2012, 2
RT I, 06.02.2014, 13
04.02.2014 - The decision of the Supreme Court en banc declares to be in conflict with the Constitution and repeals subsection 125¹ (2) of the Courts Act and subsection 174 (8) of the Code of Civil Procedure to the extent pursuant to which the judicial clerk may determine the procedure expenses in civil proceedings.
RT I, 04.07.2014, 34
26.06.2014 - The decision of the Supreme Court en banc declares to be in conflict with the Constitution and repeals subsection 132.7 (2) of the Courts Act and the revocation of § 82 of the Courts Act by clause 3 (2) of the Payment of Salaries Related to Estonian Average Wages Temporary Organisation Act to the extent these did not allow to recalculate the judges' old-age pensions based on the judges' salaries on 1 July 2013.
RT I, 10.03.2015, 3
(3) Courthouses shall be located in the territorial jurisdiction of a county court. The minister responsible for the area shall determine the exact location and service areas of courthouses. The location of every courthouse is also the location of the county court.
(1) The territorial jurisdiction of county courts shall be determined by the minister responsible for the area.
The number of judges in each county court and their division among courthouses shall be determined by the minister responsible for the area after having considered the opinions of the chairman of the county court and the chairman of the circuit court in whose territorial jurisdiction the court is located.
(2) A judge shall not refuse to hear a matter in another courthouse of the same county court.
(1) The chairman of a county court shall be appointed from among the judges of the court for five years. The chairman of a court is appointed by the minister responsible for the area after having considered the opinion of the full court.
(4) The minister responsible for the area may release the chairman of a court prematurely:
(5) In the case specified in clause (2) 4) of this section, the minister responsible for the area shall consider the opinion of the full court and the opinion of the chairman of the circuit court in whose territorial jurisdiction the county court is located.
The number of lay judges in each county court shall be determined by the minister responsible for the area with the approval of the Council for Administration of Courts after having considered the opinion of the full court of the county court.
(1) Tartu County Court shall comprise the land registry department. The land registry department shall have regional services.
(4) The land registry department shall be comprised of assistant judges and other court officers. The director of court may appoint the head of the land registry department and the heads of the regional services of the land registry department. The head of the land registry department and the head of the regional service of the land registry department shall be appointed from among assistant judges. Unless the director of court appoints the head of the land registry department, he or she shall appoint the head of the regional service of the land registry department.
(1) Tartu County Court shall comprise the registration department. The registration department shall have regional services.
(4) The registration department shall be comprised of assistant judges and other court officers. The director of court may appoint the head of the registration department and the heads of the regional services of the registration department. The head of the registration department and the head of the regional service of the registration department shall be appointed from among assistant judges. Unless the director of court appoints the head of the registration department, he or she shall appoint the head of the regional service of the registration department.
(3) Courthouses shall be located in the territorial jurisdiction of the administrative court which shall be determined by the minister responsible for the area. The minister responsible for the area shall determine the exact location and service areas of courthouses. The location of every courthouse is also the location of the administrative court.
The number of judges in each administrative court and their division among courthouses shall be determined by the minister responsible for the area after having considered the opinions of the chairman of the administrative court and the chairman of the circuit court in whose territorial jurisdiction the court is located.
(2) A judge shall not refuse to hear a matter in another courthouse of the same administrative court.
(1) The chairman of an administrative court shall be appointed from among the judges of the court for five years. The chairman of a court is appointed by the minister responsible for the area after having considered the opinion of the full court.
(5) In the case specified in clause (2) 4) of this section, the minister responsible for the area shall consider the opinion of the full court and the opinion of the chairman of the circuit court in whose territorial jurisdiction the administrative court is located.
(6) Tallinn Circuit Court shall be located in Tallinn and Tartu Circuit Court shall be located in Tartu. The minister responsible for the area shall determine the exact location of circuit courts.
The minister responsible for the area shall determine the number of judges in each circuit court after having considered the opinion of the chairman of the circuit court.
(1) The chairman of a circuit court shall be appointed from among the judges of the same court for five years. The minister responsible for the area shall appoint the chairman of a court after having considered the opinion of the full court of the circuit court.
(31) The Chairman of Tallinn Circuit Court shall grant his or her consent on the basis of a written request of the Prosecutor General for performance of procedural acts with respect to a member of the Riigikogu specified in subsection 3822 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure before obtaining consent for preparation of a statement of charges.
(4) The minister responsible for the area may, with the approval of the Supreme Court en banc, release the chairman of a court from office prematurely:
(5) In the case provided for in clause (4) 2) of this section, the minister responsible for the area shall consider the opinion of the full court.
(4) The Supreme Court en banc shall appoint the chairman of a Chamber from among the members of the Chamber for the term of five years.
[RT I, 23.12.2014, 1 - entry into force 01.01.2015]
(5) The minister responsible for the area has the right to participate in the Supreme Court en banc, except in case where a court decision being reviewed. The minister responsible for the area has the right to speak in the Supreme Court en banc. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may also invite to the Supreme Court en banc other persons to whom the Supreme Court en banc may grant the right to speak.
(1) Courts information system is a state agency database founded by the minister responsible for the area the purpose of which is the organisation of the work of courts, the collection of statistics, the collection and systematisation of court decisions and making these available to courts and the public.
(3) The composition of the register data, the procedure for submission of the data and specific procedure for application for access right to the data shall be established by the minister responsible for the area with the approval of the Council for Administration of Courts.
2) provide an opinion to the minister responsible for the area on the appointment to office, and in cases provided by law, also on the release from office of the chairman of the court;
(11) A chairman of a court may, by a directive, reduce his or her work load in administration of justice to the extent necessary for performing the duties of the chairman.
4) the distribution of the matters shall ensure equal work load of judges within a court;
41) the distribution of the matters to a chairman of a court shall take into account the reduced work load in administration of justice on the basis of subsection (11) of this section;
§ 371. Employment of judges with partial work load
(1) The chairman of the court shall provide the judge with an opportunity to work with partial work load due to:
1) necessity to raise a child under three years of age;
2) partial capacity for work.
(2) The chairman of the court may permit a judge to work with partial work load for up to one year also in a case not specified in subsection (1) of this section. Before deciding on the reduction of a judge's work load, the chairman of the court shall consider the opinion of the full court.
(3) An application for employment with partial work load shall be submitted to the chairman of the court at least two weeks before the requested commencement of employment with partial work load. The reason for and time of employment with partial work load shall be specified in the application. Documents which prove the facts which are the basis of the application shall be enclosed to the application.
(4) Upon employment with partial work load on the basis specified in this section, a judge's salary shall be reduced in proportion to the work load.
(5) A judge's employment with partial work load shall be formalised by a directive of the chairman of the court. The directive shall contain the information on a judge's work load, the period during which a judge is employed with partial work load and the amount of his or her salary upon employment with partial work.
(2) The Court en banc shall be convened every year on the second Friday of February. The extraordinary Court en banc may be convened by the minister responsible for the area or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
1) hear reports by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the minister responsible for the area concerning the development of the legal and court system;
5) elect members of the judge’s examination committee who are judges;
6) elect members and alternate members of the assistant judge’s competition committee (hereinafter competition committee) who are judges;
(2) The minister responsible for the area may transfer the court administration duties which fall within his or her competence to a court.
(3) The minister responsible for the area has no right of command or disciplinary authority over the judges.
(1) The Council for Administration of Courts (hereinafter Council) is comprised of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, five judges elected by the Court en banc for three years, two members of the Riigikogu, a sworn advocate appointed by the Board of the Bar Association, the Prosecutor General or a public prosecutor appointed by him or her, and the Chancellor of Justice or a representative appointed by him or her. The minister responsible for the area or a representative appointed by him or her shall participate in the Council with the right to speak.
(2) Council sessions shall be convened by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or by the minister responsible for the area. The person who convenes a session shall also determine the agenda thereof. The Council shall be chaired by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
51) the increase of the maximum age of the judge of a court of the first instance and of a court of appeal (subsection 991 (2));
7) [Repealed - RT I, 23.12.2014, 1 - entry into force 01.01.2015]
9) [Repealed - RT I 2005, 71, 549 - entry into force 01.01.2006]
10) [Repealed - RT I, 21.06.2014, 8 - entry into force 01.07.2014]
4) discuss other issues at the initiative of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or the minister responsible for the area.
(1) The internal organisation of work of courts of the first instance and courts of appeal shall be prescribed in the internal rules of the courts. The internal rules of a court shall be established by the chairman of the court with the approval of the full court. The internal rules of land registry departments of county courts, registration departments and offices of county courts, administrative courts and circuit courts shall be established by the minister responsible for the area.
(1) The minister responsible for the area shall approve the budgets of courts of the first instance or courts of appeal within two months after the state budget is passed as an Act, considering the opinion formulated by the Council for Administration of Courts (subsection 41 (2)).
(3) During a budgetary year, the minister responsible for the area may amend the budget expenditure of a court only with good reason after having considered the opinion of the chairman of the court and the director of the court and pursuant to the principles formulated by the Council for Administration of Courts.
(1) The Training Council is responsible for the training of judges. The term of the authority of members of the Training Council shall be three years. The Training Council shall be comprised of two judges of a court of the first instance, two judges of a court of appeal, two justices of the Supreme Court, and a representative of the Prosecutor’s Office, the minister responsible for the area and the University of Tartu. The Training Council shall approve its rules of procedure and elect the chairman. Support services shall be provided to the Training Council by the Supreme Court.
4) in exceptional case, also deviate from the division of tasks plan in the distribution of work, primarily taking into account the peculiarities of the court case, the specialisation of the judge and different work load of the judges.
(2) The minister responsible for the area shall exercise supervisory control over the performance of the duties by the chairmen of courts of first instance and chairmen of courts of appeal. The minister responsible for the area may demand explanations from the chairman of a court concerning the administration of justice in a court pursuant to the requirements.
(3) Supervisory control over the area of activity of land registry departments and registration departments shall be exercised by the directors of court and the minister responsible for the area. The minister responsible for the area shall exercise supervisory control over directors of court. The minister responsible for the area has the right to demand explanations from the employees of the departments mentioned above and from the directors of court, to inspect compliance with the operations procedure and the budget and to collect other necessary information. The minister responsible for the area shall establish the procedure for supervisory control.
Courts of the first instance and courts of appeal shall submit a statistical report on cases to the minister responsible for the area. The minister responsible for the area shall approve the standard format for reporting and the term for submission thereof.
(2) The minister responsible for the area shall announce a public competition for a vacant position of judge of a county court, administrative court and circuit court. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall announce a public competition for a vacant position of justice of the Supreme Court.
§ 54. Assessment of suitability of personal characteristics of candidates for judicial office
(5) The Security Police Board shall, within three months as of receipt of the documents specified in subsection (3) of this section, present the information gathered as a result of the security check to the judge’s examination committee and shall provide an opinion on whether a person who submitted the application meets the conditions for the issue of a permit for access to state secrets.
(6) Relying on the data collected in the course of the security check, a candidate for judicial office may be appointed judge within three years as of the time when the Security Police Board forwarded the information collected in the course of the security check to the judge’s examination committee. A person may be appointed judge later than the above term after passing a new security check.
(61) The examination committee may apply for:
1) specification and modification of the information gathered in the course of the security check;
2) verification of existence of individual circumstances specified in § 32 of the State Secrets and Classified Information of Foreign States Act within the term specified in subsection (6) of this section.
(62) To specify and modify the information specified in subsection (61) of this section and verify the existence of circumstances specified in § 32 of the State Secrets and Classified Information of Foreign States Act, a candidate for judicial office shall sign the consent specified in subsection (3) of this section.
(1) The Supreme Court en banc may appoint a judge to office to another court of the same or a lower instance with the consent of the judge and on the proposal of the minister responsible for the area. The Supreme Court en banc may appoint a judge of a court of first instance with his or her consent to permanent service in another courthouse of the same court.
§ 58. Employment of judges in Supreme Court and Ministry of Justice and appointment as Prosecutor General
(1) A judge may be transferred, without a competition, to the service of the Supreme Court or the Ministry of Justice at his or her request and with the consent of the chairman of the court. A judge may be appointed as the Prosecutor General at his or her request. During service in the Supreme Court or the Ministry of Justice or as the Prosecutor General, the authority of the judge shall be suspended. The judge shall retain the judge’s salary and other guarantees during service in the Supreme Court or the Ministry of Justice. Upon appointment as the Prosecutor General, the judge shall be paid the salary of the Prosecutor General and he or she shall retain other judge's guarantees.
(3) The Supreme Court en banc may appoint a judge who leaves the service in the Supreme Court or the Ministry of Justice or the position of the Prosecutor General to another court of the same instance or a lower instance as a judge with his or her consent. If the salary paid to the judge would be lower in comparison with the salary which the judge would have received on returning to the same court to a vacant position of judge, he or she shall continue to receive higher salary for six months.
(4) If after leaving the service in the Supreme Court or the Ministry of Justice or the position of the Prosecutor General, a judge does not have the opportunity to return to his or her former position of judge, and he or she does not wish to be transferred to another court, the judge shall be released from office and shall receive compensation in an amount equal to his or her six months’ salary. Compensation shall be calculated from the salary valid at the time of grant of the compensation in the position of judge in which the judge was last employed as a judge before taking up employment at the Ministry of Justice or the Supreme Court or appointment as the Prosecutor General.
(11) Participation of a judge as expert in an international civil mission shall be coordinated with a chairman of a court and in case of judges of the courts of the first instance and judges of courts of appeal also with the minister responsible for the area. In case of participation of a judge in an international civil mission, the Participation in International Civil Missions Act shall apply unless this Act prescribes otherwise.
(2) A judge may return to the same court to a vacant position of judge. A judge shall give notice of the wish to return to the chairman of the corresponding court in writing:
1) no later than one month before the regular termination of the judge's service at an international court institution or returning from an international civil mission;
2) no later than one month after the early termination of the judge's service in an international court institution or returning from an international civil mission;
(21) Upon failure to notify in due time of the wish to return specified in subsection (2) of this section it shall be considered that the judge does not wish to return to the same court.
(3) If after leaving the service in an international court institution or returning from an international civil mission, a judge does not have the opportunity to return to the same court to a vacant position of judge, the Supreme Court en banc may appoint a judge to a vacant position of judge at another court of the same instance or a lower instance as a judge with his or her consent. If the salary paid to the judge would be lower in comparison with the salary which the judge would have received on returning to the same court to a vacant position of judge, he or she shall continue to receive higher salary for six months.
(2) The minister responsible for the area shall announce a public competition for a position of a candidate for judicial office in the official publication Ametlikud Teadaanded. Applications shall be submitted to the minister responsible for the area within one month after the publication of the notice concerning the competition.
(5) The amount of salary of a candidate for judicial office shall be established by the minister responsible for the area.
(6) The minister responsible for the area shall determine the number of candidates for judicial office.
For the verification of the correctness of the data submitted by the candidate for judicial office, the chairman of the judge’s examination committee or a member of the judge’s examination committee appointed by him or her has the right to:
(11) On the bases provided for in the Public Service Act, the chairman of the court shall release the candidate for judicial office with the consent of the judge’s examination committee. The chairman of the court shall notify the judge’s examination committee and the minister responsible for the area of termination of service relationship on the initiative of the candidate for judicial office.
(11) The judge’s examination committee may exempt from preparatory service a person who has been employed as a law clerk or judicial clerk for at least two years. The time of employment as a consultant of court shall be included in the period of employment as a law clerk or judicial clerk.
(1) The judge’s examination committee shall have sixteen members and be formed for three years.
(2) The judge’s examination committee shall be comprised of four judges of the court of first instance elected by the Court en banc, four circuit court judges, four justices of the Supreme Court, one jurist designated by the council of the Law Faculty of the University of Tartu, a representative of the Ministry of Justice designated by the minister responsible for the area, a sworn advocate designated by the leadership of the Bar Association and the State Prosecutor designated by the Prosecutor General. The judge’s examination committee shall elect the chairman of the judge’s examination committee from among its members.
(3) In order to resolve matters within the competence of the judge’s examination committee, the chairman of the committee shall form committee panels comprising at least five members, and at least three of the members shall be judges. The principles of formation of the panels shall be established in the rules of procedure of the judge’s examination committee.
Judges shall supervise candidates for judicial office in preparatory service and persons completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge. A judge cannot have more than two supervised persons at the same time.
2) in the amount of 25 per cent of his or her salary if the number of judges in the court is at least fifteen;
3) in the amount of 35 per cent of his or her salary if the number of judges in the court is at least thirty;
4) in the amount of 45 per cent of his or her salary if the number of judges in the court is at least forty-five.
(3) The minister responsible for the area shall, on the proposal of the chairman of the court, determine additional remuneration for a manager of courthouse in the amount of:
1) 5% of the salary of a judge if there are up to ten judges in permanent service in the courthouse;
2) 10% of the salary of a judge if there are eleven to fourteen judges in permanent service in the courthouse;
3) 15% of the salary of a judge if there are more than fourteen judges in permanent service in the courthouse.
(4) Judges supervising candidates for judicial office or persons completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall receive additional remuneration equal to 5 per cent of the salary for each supervised person during supervision. At the time when the preparatory service or completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge is suspended or the preparatory service of a judge takes place in another institution specified in subsection 62 (2) of this Act, the supervisor shall be paid no additional remuneration at the principal place of the preparatory service of a judge.
§ 761. Representation expenses of Chief Justice of Supreme Court
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall be paid 20 per cent of his or her salary on a monthly basis for representation expenses.
§ 77. – § 81. [Repealed - RT I, 29.12.2012, 1 - entry into force 01.07.2013]
§ 82. Change in amount of pension
(1) A judge’s pension shall be recalculated upon a change in the amount of the salary payable for the position according to which the judge’s pension has been calculated.
(2) In the case specified in subsection (1) of this section, a pension shall be recalculated as of the date on which the amount of the salary of a judge changes.
[RT I, 04.07.2014, 34 - entry into force 26.06.2014 - The decision of the Supreme Court en banc declares to be in conflict with the Constitution and repeals subsection 132.7 (2) of the Courts Act and the revocation of § 82 of the Courts Act by clause 3 (2) of the Payment of Salaries Related to Estonian Average Wages Temporary Organisation Act to the extent these did not allow to recalculate the judges' old-age pensions based on the judges' salaries on 1 July 2013.]
(3) The minister responsible for the area shall approve the description of the robes.
(13) For the release from office on the basis specified in clause (1) 1) of this section, a judge shall submit a request at least six months prior to the desired date of the release. Based on a judge's request and for good reason, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court can make a proposal to the President of the Republic or the Riigikogu to release the judge from office earlier than six months after the submission of the request.
(1) The amount of remuneration paid to lay judges and payment procedure shall be established by a regulation of the minister responsible for the area. The minister responsible for the area shall not reduce the amount of remuneration of lay judges established by the regulation.
(3) [Repealed - RT I, 21.06.2014, 8 - entry into force 01.01.2015]
(1) The following person may be appointed as an assistant judge:
1) who complies with the requirements established in clauses 47 (1) 1)–3) of this Act and
2) who has completed the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge, unless the competition committee has exempt the person from the completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge.
(2) A person who has not completed the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge, but who has undergone judge’s preparatory service or is exempted therefrom and has passed a judge’s examination may also be appointed as an assistant judge.
§ 1161. Competition for persons completing preparatory service plan of assistant judge
(1) The minister responsible for the area shall announce a public competition for finding a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge in the official publication Ametlikud Teadaanded.
(2) A participant in the competition for persons completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall comply with the requirements established in clauses 47 (1) 1)–3) and subsection 115 (3) of this Act.
(3) The number of persons completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be determined by a regulation of the minister responsible for the area.
(4) The procedure for and conditions of the competition for persons completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be established by a regulation of the minister responsible for the area.
(5) The rules of procedure of the competition committee shall be established by a regulation of the minister responsible for the area.
§ 117. Preparatory service plan of assistant judge
(1) The person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall receive training for the office of assistant judge.
(2) The preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be prepared the competition committee, taking into account the previous work experience of a person completing the preparatory service plan. The competition committee shall determine the courts of first instance where the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge is to be completed. The supervisor of a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be appointed by director of court from among assistant judges. For the period when the completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge takes place in the legal service of a court, the judge supervisor of a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be appointed by the chairman of the court.
(3) A person completing the preparatory service plan shall be governed at the time of the completion of the plan by §§ 50, 51, 54–56 and 58 of the Public Service Act and subsections 3 (1)–(3) and §§ 4–7, 11, 17–19 and 21 of the Anti-corruption Act.
(4) The compensation for damage caused by a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be governed by the provisions of the Public Service Act concerning the proprietary liability of officials and the provisions of the State Liability Act concerning the right of recourse. Upon compensation for damage, the basic salary of a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be considered an assistant judge’s salary.
(5) The term for the completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be determined by the competition committee. The competition committee may extend the determined term in justified cases at the request of a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge.
(6) The preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be deemed to have been completed by a resolution of the competition committee based on the report of a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge. Unless a person has been appointed as an assistant judge within five years after the preparatory service plan is deemed to have been completed, he or she is required to complete the preparatory service plan again for running as a candidate for an assistant judge.
(7) The preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall not be deemed to have been completed by a resolution of the competition committee, if:
1) a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge has failed to complete the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge within the term determined by the competition committee;
2) a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge commits an indecent act;
3) a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge has not requested the competition committee to extend the term for completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge or
4) the competition committee has not extended the term for completion of the preparatory service plan.
§ 1171. Verification of reliability of candidates for person completing preparatory service plan of assistant judge
(1) A candidate for person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall submit to the competition committee information concerning him or her, the composition of which shall be established by the minister responsible for the area.
(2) For the verification of the correctness of the information submitted by a candidate for person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge, the minister responsible for the area has the right, through officials authorised by him or her, to:
1) address state and local government agencies, officials of state authorities and local governments, legal persons and natural persons by inquiries concerning the personal data of a candidate for person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge;
(4) A candidate for person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be notified of the verification with respect of him or her and provided an opportunity to examine the materials gathered in the process of the checks.
(5) If a candidate for person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge intentionally submits incorrect data to the competition committee or conceals material information, he or she shall be excluded from the competition by a resolution of the competition committee.
§ 1172. Exemption from completion of preparatory service plan of assistant judge
The competition committee may exempt from the completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge a person who has worked for at least two years in an office or position which requires legal knowledge and with regard to whom the competition committee finds that the earlier experience allows the person to assume the office of an assistant judge without completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge.
§ 1173. Suspension of completion of preparatory service plan of assistant judge
(1) The competition committee shall suspend, by a resolution, the completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge:
1) for the period of pregnancy and maternity leave and for the period when a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge has the right to be on parental leave, but not longer than until the child attains three years of age;
2) for the period of compulsory military service or alternative service;
3) in the case charges are brought against a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge pursuant to criminal procedure, from the date on which the charges are brought until the proceedings are terminated or a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge is acquitted.
(2) Based on clauses (1) 1) and 2) of this section, the completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be suspended on the basis of the application of a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge.
§ 1174. Termination of completion of preparatory service plan of assistant judge
The competition committee shall terminate, by a resolution, the completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge:
1) due to unsatisfactory results;
2) if a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge commits an indecent act;
3) if a judgment of conviction in a criminal matter has entered into force with respect to a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge.
§ 118. Report on completion of preparatory service plan of assistant judge
(1) A person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall submit to the competition committee a written report with regard to the completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge.
(2) The supervisor of a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall submit at the end of the completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge to the competition committee a written opinion with regard to the results of the completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge.
§ 119. Competition committee
(1) The competition committee shall be formed for a term of five years and shall consist of seven members. The competition committee shall be comprised of:
1) two judges of a court of the first instance and one alternate member elected by the Court en banc;
2) a judge of a circuit court and his or her alternate member elected by the Court en banc;
3) two assistant judges and one alternate member appointed by the minister responsible for the area;
4) a representative of the Ministry of Justice and his or her alternate member appointed by the minister responsible for the area;
5) a notary and his or her alternate member designated by the Chamber of Notaries.
(2) The minister responsible for the area shall appoint the chairman of the competition committee from among the committee members.
(3) The competition committee shall:
1) conduct the competition for assistant judges and persons completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge;
2) decide on persons completing the preparatory service plan and their division between the courts;
3) determine the term for completion of the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge and, in justified cases, extend this term;
4) decide whether to deem the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge to have been completed.
(4) The competition committee has a quorum if at least four members are present. The competition committee shall adopt resolutions by a majority of votes in favour. Upon an equal division of votes, the chairman of the committee has the casting vote.
(2) The minister responsible for the area shall announce a public competition for a vacant position of an assistant judge in the official publication Ametlikud Teadaanded.
(4) Assistant judges shall be appointed to office by the minister responsible for the area on the proposal of the competition committee.
(5) A probationary period with the duration of up to six months shall be applied upon appointment to office of an assistant judge. The director of court shall appoint the supervisor to an assistant judge for the probationary period.
Upon assuming office, an assistant judge shall take the following oath before the minister responsible for the area:
(2) An assistant judge supervising a person completing the preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be paid additional remuneration equal to 5 per cent of the salary during supervision.
(3) The head of the payment orders department, land registry department and registration department of a county court and the head of the regional service of the land registry department and registration department shall be paid an additional remuneration equal to up to 35 per cent of the salary of an assistant judge for the performance of the duties related to heading.
(31) The additional remuneration of the head of the payment orders department, land registry department and registration department of a county court and the head of the regional service of the land registry department and registration department shall be established by a regulation of the Government of the Republic.
[Repealed – RT I, 21.06.2014, 8 - entry into force 01.07.2014]
3) prepare, with the approval of the chairman of the court, the draft budget of the judicial institution and submit the draft budget to the minister responsible for the area;
(2) The minister responsible for the area may give directives to organise issues within the area of activity of directors of court.
(3) A director of court must have completed higher education. Directors of court of courts of the first instance and courts of appeal shall be appointed to office for five years by the minister responsible for the area. A director of court shall be appointed to office on the basis of a public competition, section 1171 shall apply upon verification of the reliability of applicants.
(4) The minister responsible for the area may decide that several judicial institutions have one director of court.
(41) The county court, which structural units are the land registry department and the registration department, can additionally also have the director of court responsible exclusively for the area of activity of the land registry department and the registration department.
(5) The basic salary and variable salary of directors of court of courts of the first instance and courts of appeal shall be determined in the salary guide established by the minister responsible for the area on the basis of subsection 63 (2) of the Public Service Act.
[RT I, 06.02.2014, 13 - entry into force 04.02.2014 - The decision of the Supreme Court en banc declares to be in conflict with the Constitution and repeals subsection 125¹ (2) of the Courts Act and subsection 174 (8) of the Code of Civil Procedure to the extent pursuant to which the judicial clerk may determine the procedure expenses in civil proceedings.]
(7) A person who has worked for at least three years as a judicial clerk and passed a judge’s examination shall be appointed a senior judicial clerk.
(1) A court security guard is a court official whose duty is to maintain order in the court, serve notices and summons to persons and perform other duties related to the functions of a court security guard determined by the internal rules of the court. Court security guards shall have the same rights as assistant police officers pursuant to §§ 12, 18–20, 22, 23, 25, 26 and Division 2 of Chapter 4 of the Assistant Police Officer Act, and the minister responsible for the area may, by a regulation, establish the procedure for issuing of weapons and special equipment to court security guards, return of weapons and special equipment and carrying of weapons.
(2) Additional remuneration shall be paid to court security guards for serving summons and notices. The minister responsible for the area shall establish the rates of additional remuneration.
The minister responsible for the area may establish the description of and the procedure for wearing of the attire of court officers. If wearing the attire is obligatory the attire shall be given to the court officer free of charge.
§ 1291. Authority of chairmen of Chambers of Supreme Court
The term of authority of the chairmen of the Chambers of the Supreme Court appointed before 1 January 2015 shall be accounted as of 1 January 2015.
(2) The preparatory service plan of an assistant judge shall be deemed to have been completed upon graduation from an institution of applied higher education which provides special education for assistant judges.
§ 1313. Redundancy payment of assistant judges
An assistant judge appointed to office before 1 January 2015 who is released from service due to disestablishment of position and who has worked as an assistant judge before the lay-off for at least one year shall be paid the six months’ salary of an assistant judge as compensation.
(11) Subsections 69 (1)–(3) of this Act shall be implemented as of the election of members of the judge’s examination committee in 2015.
(3) [Repealed - RT I, 04.07.2014, 34 - entry into force 26.06.2014 - The decision of the Supreme Court en banc declares to be in conflict with the Constitution and repeals subsection 132.7 (2) of the Courts Act and the revocation of § 82 of the Courts Act by clause 3 (2) of the Payment of Salaries Related to Estonian Average Wages Temporary Organisation Act to the extent these did not allow to recalculate the judges' old-age pensions based on the judges' salaries on 1 July 2013.]
(1) [Repealed - RT I, 21.06.2014, 8 - entry into force 01.07.2014]
(3) Until the formation of the competition committee, the functions of the committee shall be performed by the current assistant judge’s examination committee.
(2) The Ministry of Justice shall transfer the information and contracts necessary for the preparation of the judges’ training program to a foundation pursuant to the procedure approved by the minister, and the foundation shall begin the preparation of the judges’ training program for the year 2003 not later than 1 September 2002.
§ 1372. Specification for application of subsection 50 (2) of this Act
For the purposes of subsection 50 (2) of this Act, employment as an assistant prosecutor [prokuröri abi] before 1 April 2015 shall be deemed equal to employment as an assistant prosecutor [abiprokurör].
(4) The minister responsible for the area may appoint to office in 2014 the director of court responsible for the area of activity of the land registry department and registration department of Tartu County Court. The director of court responsible for the area of activity of the land registry department and registration department may be appointed to office without a public competition from among the current directors of court.
(5) The court officers comprising the land registry departments and registration departments of county courts shall be considered as of 1 January 2015 the court officers of the land registry department and registration department of Tartu County Court and they shall continue service at Tartu County Court.