At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu passed the Resolution which appoints Heiki Loot a Justice of the Supreme Court as of 3 December 2018.

The appointment of a new justice of the Supreme Court is connected with the fact that on 15 February 2018 the Riigikogu decided to release justice of the Supreme Court Indrek Koolmeister from his office as of 30 June 2018. Koolmeister was released from office at his own request. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Priit Pikamäe had announced a public competition to find a new justice of the Supreme Court. Pikamäe had considered the opinion of the Supreme Court en banc and the Council for Administration of Courts, and had presented Heiki Loot as a candidate for justice of the Supreme Court to the Supreme Court.

Heiki Loot has a degree in law from the University of Tartu. In 1994, Loot started work as an assistant to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Later he became Director of the Public Law Department of the Ministry of Justice in 1995. As director of the department, Loot was responsible for directing and coordinating the legislative drafting in public law. Among other things, he was instrumental in preparing and launching the administrative law and penal law reform. In 1998–2003, Loot was Rector of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences. During his term of office, the academy that had specialised mainly in national defence was reorganised into an institution providing professional higher education in civil service. Study programmes were extensively reformed and new civil service curricula were opened. Heiki Loot has been the State Secretary since 2003. As the State Secretary, his main function has been the management of the work of the Government of the Republic and directing of the Government Office.

In the cover letter, Pikamäe notes that Heiki Loot has a long and very diverse experience of civil service. He has played a significant role in launching legislative drafting reforms, and building up and developing national institutions. He is an experienced and recognised lawyer whose life and professional experience allow him to contribute significantly to the work of the Administrative Law Chamber of the Supreme Court and the further development of Estonian administrative law.

64 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Appointment of Heiki Loot a Justice of the Supreme Court” (668 OE), submitted by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Priit Pikamäe. Six members voted against and there were two abstentions.

One Bill passed the first reading in the Riigikogu:

The Bill on Amendments to the Weapons Act (654 SE), initiated by the National Defence Committee, will bring the Act into conformity with the relevant EU directive amending the relevant Council Directive on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (Firearms Directive).

The Bill will include into the scope of application of the Act alarm and signal weapons and acoustic weapons with regard to which no rules have been established so far. The planned amendments will allow to handle, incl. to manufacture, repair, etc., such weapons also in Estonia in accordance with the requirements in force in the EU. Uniform technical specifications for such weapons will be established in the EU as of September 2018. Uniform requirements for marking firearms and their parts will also be established in the EU. In order that Estonian undertakings could also manufacture weapons or sell them with proper marking, it is important to amend the Act by adding the relevant regulation.

The Bill will specify the requirements for the marking of firearms, their essential components and ammunition. In addition to the national requirements, the technical specifications established by the European Commission will have to be taken into account when marking firearms placed on the market, their essential components and ammunition.

The deliberation of the first reading of a Bill was adjourned in the Riigikogu due to the end of the working hours of the plenary:

The Bill on Amendments to the Citizenship Act (634 SE), initiated by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, will provide for allowing multiple citizenship for Estonian citizens who have acquired Estonian citizenship by birth. The Bill also provides for the possibility of resumption of Estonian citizenship for persons who acquired Estonian citizenship before 26 February 1992 but who were forced to renounce it or were deemed to have ceased to be an Estonian citizen.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian) http://stenogrammid.riigikogu.ee/en/201809201000.

Photos.

Video recordings of the sittings of the Riigikogu can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/riigikogu (NB! The recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Riigikogu Press Service
Marie Kukk
631 6456; 58 213 309
[email protected]
Questions: [email protected]