President of the Constitutional Court Ineta Ziemele will commence performing the duties of the Judge of CJEU on 6 October

21.09.2020.

By the decision of the Council of the European Union, adopted on 2 September, No. (EU) 2020/1251, Ineta Ziemele was appointed to the office of the Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union (hereafter – CJEU) for the remainder of the term of office of the former Judge of CJEU Egils Levits until 6 October 2024.

Ineta Ziemele will leave the office of the Constitutional Court’s Justice on 2 October of the current year to commence performance of the duties of CJEU’s Judge. Ineta Ziemele will enter office of CJEU’s Judge after giving the solemn promise on 6 October.

After 2 October, the duties of the Constitutional Court’s President will be fulfilled by Sanita Osipova, the Vice-president of the Constitutional Court. Pursuant to the Constitutional Court Law, if necessary, the Vice-president substitutes the President and performs the President’s duties of office. The Rules of Procedure of the Constitutional Court provide that the Vice-president issues an order to set the place and time of the court hearing, at which the new President of the Court will be elected, within three days after the President has stepped down.

About CJEU

CJEU is the supreme judicial institution of the European Union, located in Luxemburg. CJEU’s task is to ensure application of the EU’s legal acts and their uniform interpretation in all Member States of the EU. One Judge from each Member State serves at CJEU.

The Court is comprised of 27 Judges and 11 Advocates General. The Judges and Advocates General are appointed to their offices by the governments of the Member States, by reaching an agreement after consulting with a committee, which has to provide an opinion on the suitability of the candidates proposed for the office. Judges and Advocates General are appointed for the term of six years, and their term can be renewed. They are selected from among persons, whose independence is beyond doubt and who comply with the requirements, which the respective Member States have set for the supreme judicial offices, or whose competence is generally recognised.