Lithuania seeks new leaders for three courts

Lithuania is embarking on a search for new leaders for three significant judicial bodies, with the Presidential Chancellery announcing the launch of selection processes. The positions include the President of the Lithuanian Court of Appeal, the President of the Kaunas Regional Court, and the President of the Vilnius District Court.

The presidency of the Lithuanian Court of Appeal has been vacant since June, following the Seimas's (parliament) decision not to approve the second term for its former head, Nerijus Meilutis. Meanwhile, the terms for the current heads of the Kaunas Regional Court, Marius Bartninkas, and the Vilnius District Court, Viktorija Šelmienė, are set to conclude in December.

The article also touches upon broader challenges within the court system, particularly concerning staffing. It notes that positions such as judge's assistants and court secretaries are not competitive due to salary levels when compared to the private sector and other state institutions. This has resulted in a significant staff turnover rate, reportedly up to 15% annually.

Consequently, existing employees often face additional workloads and are tasked with training new staff. The Lithuanian Court of Appeal is described as a general jurisdiction court handling appeals and other complaints concerning civil and criminal cases from five regional courts. The Kaunas Regional Court is the second-largest in the country, while the Vilnius District Court is the largest, employing over 100 judges.