Ineta Ziemele elected President of the Constitutional Court

08.05.2017.

Today, on 8 May, Justice of the Constitutional Court Ineta Ziemele was elected President of the Constitutional Court for the term of three years, pursuant to the procedure set out in the Constitutional Court Law.

Ineta Ziemele has been the Justice of the Constitutional Court since 8 January 2015. She is a doctor of law and Professor at the Riga Graduate School of Law. She has gained notable international experience at European organisations, inter alia, by serving as a Judge at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). She was President of a ECHR Chamber and chaired the Committee on the Status of Judges.

Ineta Ziemele has acted as an expert in numerous international projects. Her professional and research achievements are linked to the fields of international law, constitutional law, and human rights. This year she was appointed a representative of the Republic of Latvia at the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Ineta Ziemele has received the Cabinet’s Certificate of Recognition for significant contribution to the development of Latvia’s legal system, reinforcing democracy and the rule of law, as well as scientific achievements in the field of law. In 2014 Ineta Ziemele was decorated with IV Class Order of the Three Stars.

Until today the Constitutional Court was presided by Aldis Laviņš, who served in this office for three years, in accordance with the President’s term of office defined in the Constitutional Court Law.

Today election of the Vice-president of the Constitutional Court was also held. Justices of the Constitutional Court Sanita Osipova and Gunārs Kusiņš were nominated for this office. In two rounds of election none of the candidates received the required number of votes. The Court decided to announce a break in the court sitting, the election of the Vice-president of the Constitutional Court will continue on 16 May 2017 at 12.00.