The Riigikogu passed with 77 votes in favour the Bill on Amendments to the Courts Act and the Administrative Cooperation Act (190 SE), initiated by the Constitutional Committee. In the Courts Act, the section providing the training of judges was amended. The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that the funds allocated in the state budget for training of judges are used more efficiently and purposefully, by modifying the organisational framework established for organisation of training of judges, avoiding duplication of tasks and extending the competence of the training council of judges in substantive coordination of training of judges. The objective is to ensure professional, comprehensive and consistent in-service training for judges which meets the actual needs. The Administrative Cooperation Act is amended on the basis of the amendments to the Courts Act. The Act enters into force on 1 January 2009. The strategy for training of judges, the training programmes and the judge’s examination programme approved by the training council which are valid at the time of entry into force of the Act will be in force until amendment or the end of the term of validity. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

The Riigikogu Press Service