INITIATION OF THE CASSATION PROCEDURE IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

On June 14, 2018, the Constitutional Court delivered the judgment in the case no. 2017-23-01 On Compliance of the Second and the Third Part of Section 573 of the Criminal Procedure Law with the First Sentence of Article 92 of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia. The Constitutional court held to recognise the second and the third part of Section (573) of the Criminal Procedure Law, insofar it provides that the matter on initiating cassation proceedings in criminal procedure is decided by one judge, without providing reasoning for refusal to initiate cassation proceedings in criminal procedure, as being incompatible with the first sentence of Article 92 of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia. Subsequently, the Criminal Procedure Law was amended and amendments came into force on October 25, 2018. The amendments provide that in order to decide on an issue regarding the initiation of cassation proceedings, cassation complaint or protest shall be examined by three judges. The composition of the court and the time when the court will be decided on the initiation of the cassation proceedings shall be notified to the person who lodged the complaint or protest, as well as to the person whose rights and interests are violated by the complaint or protest