CONSTITUTIONAL COURT AS A GUARDIAN OF THE LATVIAN LEGAL SYSTEM

Anita Rodiņa

doi:10.5937/spz65-33681

Authors

Anita Rodiņa, Dr. iur. Law Faculty, University of Latvia, Latvia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5937/spz65-33681

Keywords:

Constitutional Court, justice, competence, locus standi requirements, judgment

Abstract

In the article, the author explains the foundation and the constitutional regulation of the Latvian Constitutional Court marking its place within the principle of the separation of powers. The appointment of the justices and some novelties along with problems encountered in the justice selection procedure is provided in other chapter of the article. By describing the competence of the Constitutional Court, it is pointed out that it is very narrow as the Constitutional Court adjudicates only cases about conformity of legal enactments with the norms of higher hierarchy. The author analyses also the circle of persons who can stand before the Court. Special emphasis is given to the constitutional complaint – a petition which can be submitted to the Constitutional Court by an individual and which marks also dialogue between the Latvian Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights. At the end, the author explains the legal force and real influence of judgments of the Constitutional Court, including rights of the Constitutional Court to determine a point in time when the anti-constitutional regulation becomes null and void. The author concludes that the Constitutional Court not only theoretically, but also in reality ensures a system for the constitutional order and values, as well as principles in the Republic of Latvia.

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