Questions from the Supreme Court of Latvia
The Supreme Court of Latvia will be organizing a conference this year, with one of the topics focusing on the interaction between the courts and legal scholarship. To gather information on the experiences of other Supreme Courts in their cooperation with legal scholars and university law faculties, we would be grateful if you could kindly provide responses to the questions below. We respectfully request that your response be submitted by April 2.
1. Are Supreme Court judges permitted to combine their judicial duties with teaching at a university?
2. Does the Supreme Court refer to the opinions or findings of legal scholars in its judgments? If so, is this explicitly indicated in the judgment?
3. In what other ways does the Supreme Court cooperate with legal scholars (e.g., through the preparation of case law compilations, participation in academic publications, lectures, conferences, or other activities)?
4. Are Supreme Court judgments subject to analysis or criticism by legal scholars? If so, in what formats does this typically take place (e.g., academic articles, commentaries, conferences, or other forms of scholarly discussion)?
5. Are there any awards, competitions, surveys, or other initiatives aimed at highlighting court judgments that are considered particularly significant for legal scholars or for society more broadly?
6. Are there any Supreme Court judgments that have significantly influenced legal doctrine or led to changes in legislation?
7. Do university lecturers have any advantages or priority when applying for a judicial position?
8. What percentage of Supreme Court judges hold a doctoral degree in law?
9. What percentage of Supreme Court judges hold not only a law degree but also another higher education degree in a different field?
10. How does the Supreme Court cooperate with students of university law faculties (e.g., through internships, participation in or organization of events, support for research projects or theses, or other activities)?