An independent judicial power exists in the Republic of Latvia, alongside the legislative and the executive power. Judicial power in the Republic of Latvia is vested in district (town) courts, regional courts, the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. In the Republic of Latvia, only a court shall adjudge justice. Civil cases, criminal cases and administrative cases are examined in forty-five courts, which are divided into three levels – thirty-nine district (town) courts, five regional courts and the Supreme Court.
District (town) courts is inferior courts of the first instance. District (town) courts have jurisdiction to hear civil, criminal and administrative cases as courts of first instance.
Regional courts is appellate courts with certain jurisdiction as courts of first instance.
The Supreme Court is appellate court and the court of revision (cassation). The Supreme Court consists of a Senate composed of three departments – Civil Law Department, Criminal Law Department and Administrative Law Department and two court panels – the Civil Law Panel and the Criminal Law Panel.…