The Council for the Judiciary Supports the 2023 Court Budget Requests

On Wednesday, 25 January, the Council for the Judiciary, acting by written procedure, supported the budget requests of district (city) courts, regional courts and the Supreme Court for this year. The main priority of the 2023 court budget is increasing the monthly salaries of court employees.

The total expenditure planned for 2023 in the budget request for district (city) courts and regional courts submitted by the Ministry of Justice amounts to approximately EUR 87.7 million. Additional funding is requested to increase the monthly salaries of court employees and cover the costs of health insurance policies, as well as to equip courtrooms with modern technical equipment, improve the working environment and court premises, ensure the operation of judges’ self-governing bodies, enhance information systems and establish a centralised archive in Jēkabpils.

Meanwhile, the total expenditure planned for 2023 in the budget request submitted by the Supreme Court amounts to approximately EUR 8.5 million. Additional funding is requested for priority measures to maintain a competitive remuneration system for Supreme Court employees, provide comprehensive health insurance, establish a website for the Council for the Judiciary, and for Latvia’s presidency of the Council of Europe in 2023.

Under the Law on Judicial Power, the Council for the Judiciary gives its opinion on the court budget requests prepared by the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice. The Council for the Judiciary’s opinion, together with the budget requests, is submitted to the Ministry of Finance.

The final decision on the prepared 2023 court budget requests will be taken by the Saeima.