Judicial Reform
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Information Hour
Date: 2025-10-22 15:55
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today's sixth question focused on judicial reform, which was posed to the Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, Liisa-Ly Pakosta, by Riigikogu member Riina Solman. Solman highlighted the growing stress among judges and the protraction of proceedings, referring both to the concerns of Harju County Court judges and the public call by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Villu Kõve for system reform. Solman inquired about the Minister's vision, steps, and existing plan. Minister Pakosta confirmed that the ministry shares these concerns and has engaged in intensive cooperation with representatives of the judicial system over the past year. She referred to Bill 632, currently under deliberation in the Riigikogu, which addresses the equalization of judges' workloads, the appointment of substitute judges, and the possibility of paying additional remuneration, with the aim of making the courts' work more efficient. Pakosta also emphasized the plan to form one county court, one administrative court, and one circuit court, the constitutional analysis of which has been positive, but which requires resolving location issues. A follow-up question addressed regional differences and the fate of the Jõhvi courthouse. The Minister confirmed that judicial proceedings in Jõhvi will continue, but the space program has been rationalized. Regarding digital solutions, Pakosta acknowledged the Riigikogu Finance Committee, which allocated funds for developing the terms of reference for a new court information system, emphasizing the need to separate the judicial system's digital development from the executive power. In response to Peeter Ernits' question about the judiciary's attitude, the Minister replied that judges have provided thorough feedback, which has significantly helped improve the bill. Pakosta stressed that the main goal of the reform is to ensure faster, legally more certain, and better predictable court decisions for the people and businesses of Estonia, as statistics show a slowdown in proceedings despite an increase in the number of judges.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Riina Solman initiated the question and also posed a clarifying question, thereby keeping the topic sharply in focus. The questions she presented were highly detailed and referred to specific problems (judges' stress, Villu Kõve's article).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that the sixth item on the agenda, which concerns judicial reform, is directed to the Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, Liisa-Ly Pakosta, and will be presented by Riigikogu member Riina Solman.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman highlights serious issues within the Estonian judicial system, such as the high stress levels experienced by judges and the protraction of legal proceedings. She references both the concerns raised by county court judges and the public reform proposal put forward by Supreme Court Chief Justice Villu Kõve, and asks the minister for his vision and concrete plan for resolving the situation.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman highlighted the critical state of the judicial system, noting that judges are overworked and proceedings are delayed. She cited both the judges considering resignation and the public appeal for reform made by Supreme Court Chief Justice Villu Kõve, and requested that the minister provide a clear vision and action plan for reforming the system.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta shares the concern regarding the efficiency of the judicial system and confirms that Draft Bill 632 has been intensively developed over the past year in cooperation with the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Committee. The bill aims to expedite the delivery of court decisions, standardize the workload of judges, and establish a single county court, administrative court, and circuit court to ensure greater specialization and more efficient work organization.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar, acting as moderator, thanked the previous speaker and then gave the floor to Riina Solman to ask a clarifying question.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman raises the question of regional differences in the speed of resolving court cases, highlighting the tensions surrounding the closure of the Jõhvi courthouse in Ida-Viru County, and inquires about the ministry's vision regarding flexible work arrangements, digital solutions, and the secure use of artificial intelligence in court support tasks and standardized preliminary proceedings.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta commends the actions of Priit Kama, Chairman of Viru County Court, for reasonably scaling back the spatial program of the Jõhvi courthouse, which ensured the economical use of the budget without sacrificing the quality of judicial proceedings. Furthermore, the Minister praised the decision by the Riigikogu Finance Committee to allocate the necessary resources for developing the terms of reference for updating the courts' information system, stressing that current digital developments are not exemplary and require greater independence of the judicial system from the executive branch.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker and then gave the floor to Peeter Ernits, who asked the Madam Minister an additional question.
Peeter Ernits
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Peeter Ernits raises the important and broad topic of judicial reform, acknowledging its complexity, and asks the minister to characterize the judiciary in relation to the need for these reforms.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Justice and Digital Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta commends Estonian judges for the comprehensive feedback provided on the draft legislation, which has led to significant changes, considering this democratic process the best way to advance the reform. She emphasizes that the reform's objective is not to serve the judiciary, but rather the people and businesses of Estonia, as court statistics indicate a slowdown in judicial proceedings and a decline in the quality of decisions. Therefore, systemic solutions are necessary to ensure faster, more legally sound, and more predictable court rulings.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the discussion of the sixth item on the agenda and, before continuing the sitting, gave the floor to Peeter Ernits, who wished to ask a question regarding the procedure for conducting the session.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits points out that when one of several ministers invited to a session (in this case, the Minister of Finance) is ignored or "frozen out," it causes frustration for that minister and disrupts the colleague next to them, and he asks how to resolve this time-wasting situation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar notes that the Board of the Riigikogu has successfully directed members to pose questions to all government members participating in the information hour, emphasizing that the situation has improved. He also promises that during today's sitting, after the seventh question, there will be an opportunity to ask questions of the third minister who has not yet had the floor, as this is clearly stipulated in the rules.