Lithuania's Constitutional Court
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Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania (in ) is the
constitutional court A constitutional court is a high court that deals primarily with constitutional law. Its main authority is to rule on whether laws that are challenged are in fact unconstitutional, i.e. whether they conflict with constitutionally established ru ...
of the
Republic of Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...
, established by the
Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these princ ...
of 1992. It began the activities after the adoption of the Law of Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania on 3 February 1993. Since its inception, the court has been located in
Vilnius Vilnius ( , ) is the capital of and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city in Lithuania and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, most-populous city in the Baltic states. The city's estimated January 2025 population w ...
. The main task of the court is
judicial review Judicial review is a process under which a government's executive, legislative, or administrative actions are subject to review by the judiciary. In a judicial review, a court may invalidate laws, acts, or governmental actions that are in ...
. It may therefore declare the acts of the
Seimas The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (), or simply the Seimas ( ; ), is the unicameralism, unicameral legislative body of the Lithuania, Republic of Lithuania. The Seimas constitutes the legislative branch of Government of Lithuania, govern ...
unconstitutional In constitutional law, constitutionality is said to be the condition of acting in accordance with an applicable constitution; "Webster On Line" the status of a law, a procedure, or an act's accordance with the laws or set forth in the applic ...
and thus render them ineffective. As such, it is comparable to the
Federal Constitutional Court of Germany The Federal Constitutional Court ( ; abbreviated: ) is the supreme court, supreme constitutional court for the Germany, Federal Republic of Germany, established by the constitution or Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, Basic Law ...
or, in a limited scope, to the
Supreme Court of the United States The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all Federal tribunals in the United States, U.S. federal court cases, and over Stat ...
. However, it differs from it and other
supreme court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
s in that it is not part of the regular judicial system, but more a unique judicial branch. Most importantly, it does not serve as a regular
court of appeals An appellate court, commonly called a court of appeal(s), appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to hear a case upon appeal from a trial court or other lower tribunal. Appellat ...
from lower courts or as a sort of "superappellate court" on any violation of national laws. Its jurisdiction is focused on constitutional issues, the integrity of the Constitution. Moreover, it adjudicates on the conformance of the acts of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to the laws, compliance with the Constitution of international agreements, as well as their ratification, and takes a final decision on voting infringements.


Activities

The Court has played a substantial role in the development of the Lithuanian legal system, declaring a number of national laws unconstitutional. On 31 March 2004, it issued a ruling acknowledging the breach of the
oath of office An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before assuming the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations. Suc ...
by the President
Rolandas Paksas Rolandas Paksas (; born 10 June 1956) is a Lithuanian politician who served as the sixth President of Lithuania from 2003 until his impeachment in April 2004. He previously served two terms as the Prime Minister of Lithuania in 1999 and again ...
. He was removed from office by Seimas following the
impeachment Impeachment is a process by which a legislative body or other legally constituted tribunal initiates charges against a public official for misconduct. It may be understood as a unique process involving both political and legal elements. In Eur ...
on 6 April 2004; this has been the first successful case of impeachment of the head of state in the history of
Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
. The ruling interpreted the Constitution as precluding a person, who was pleaded guilty for the breach of oath, from assuming any future position in public service, which requires taking an oath. On 9 December 1998, the Constitutional Court declared that article 105 of the criminal code of the Republic of Lithuania, which established the death penalty, violated several articles of the Constitution. This ruling was a big step in humanizing the punishment system.Constitutional Court (13 January 2020
25 Konstitucinio Teismo bylos, pakeitusios Lietuvą
(25 cases of the Constitutional Court that changed Lithuania), p. 11


Composition

The Court comprises nine justices, appointed by the Seimas, for a nine-year non-renewable term of office. Only Lithuanian citizens of an impeccable reputation, who are trained in law, and who have served for at least 10 years in the legal profession, or in an area of legal education are eligible for appointment. Usually, notable legal scholars and highly experienced judges qualify for the position. The court is renewed by a third every three years. The candidates are nominated by the Chairman of the Seimas, the
President of Lithuania The president of the Republic of Lithuania () is the head of state of the Republic of Lithuania. The president directs and appoints the executive branch of the Government of Lithuania, represents the nation internationally and is the commande ...
and the President of the
Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania Supreme may refer to: Entertainment * Supreme (character), a comic book superhero created by Rob Liefeld * ''Supreme'' (film), a 2016 Telugu film * Supreme (producer), hip-hop record producer * "Supreme" (song), a 2000 song by Robbie Williams * ...
, the Seimas then decides on appointing them. The Seimas appoints the President of the Court from among the justices upon the nomination by the President of the state.


Members


Current members


Historical composition

1993–1996 * Juozas Žilys (''President'') * Algirdas Gailiūnas *
Kęstutis Lapinskas Kęstutis Lapinskas (29 January 1937) is an expert of Constitutional law and former President of Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, who replaced Egidijus Kūris at this position. Kęstutis Lapinskas is one of the signatory of the Ac ...
*
Zigmas Levickis Zigmas is a Lithuanian masculine given name. Notable people with the name include: *Zigmas Jukna (1935–1980), Lithuanian rower who competed for the Soviet Union in the 1960 Summer Olympics *Zigmas Zinkevičius (1925–2018), leading Lithuanian l ...
* Vladas Pavilonis († 2003) * Pranas Vytautas Rasimavičius († 2002) * Teodora Staugaitienė * Stasys Stačiokas * Stasys Šedbaras 1996–1999 * Juozas Žilys (''President'') *
Egidijus Jarašiūnas Egidijus Jarašiūnas (born October 9, 1952 in Kelmė district municipality) is a Lithuanian lawyer, signatory of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. He was a judge of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania from 1996 to 2005. ...
*
Kęstutis Lapinskas Kęstutis Lapinskas (29 January 1937) is an expert of Constitutional law and former President of Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, who replaced Egidijus Kūris at this position. Kęstutis Lapinskas is one of the signatory of the Ac ...
*
Zigmas Levickis Zigmas is a Lithuanian masculine given name. Notable people with the name include: *Zigmas Jukna (1935–1980), Lithuanian rower who competed for the Soviet Union in the 1960 Summer Olympics *Zigmas Zinkevičius (1925–2018), leading Lithuanian l ...
* Augustinas Normantas * Vladas Pavilonis (†2003) *
Jonas Prapiestis Jonas Prapiestis (born 2 August 1952) is a Lithuanian judge, Professor of criminal law and politician, born in Kupiškis. In 1990 he was among those who signed the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania The Act of the Re-Establi ...
* Pranas Vytautas Rasimavičius (†2002) * Teodora Staugaitienė 1999–2002 * Vladas Pavilonis (''President'') (†2003) *
Egidijus Jarašiūnas Egidijus Jarašiūnas (born October 9, 1952 in Kelmė district municipality) is a Lithuanian lawyer, signatory of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. He was a judge of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania from 1996 to 2005. ...
*
Egidijus Kūris Egidijus Kūris (born 1961 in Vilnius, Lithuania) is a Lithuanian judge, professor and PhD in law. He is the former President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania and currently serving as a representative justice for Lithuani ...
*
Zigmas Levickis Zigmas is a Lithuanian masculine given name. Notable people with the name include: *Zigmas Jukna (1935–1980), Lithuanian rower who competed for the Soviet Union in the 1960 Summer Olympics *Zigmas Zinkevičius (1925–2018), leading Lithuanian l ...
* Augustinas Normantas *
Jonas Prapiestis Jonas Prapiestis (born 2 August 1952) is a Lithuanian judge, Professor of criminal law and politician, born in Kupiškis. In 1990 he was among those who signed the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania The Act of the Re-Establi ...
* Vytautas Sinkevičius * Stasys Stačiokas * Teodora Staugaitienė 2002–2005 *
Egidijus Kūris Egidijus Kūris (born 1961 in Vilnius, Lithuania) is a Lithuanian judge, professor and PhD in law. He is the former President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania and currently serving as a representative justice for Lithuani ...
(''President'') *
Egidijus Jarašiūnas Egidijus Jarašiūnas (born October 9, 1952 in Kelmė district municipality) is a Lithuanian lawyer, signatory of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. He was a judge of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania from 1996 to 2005. ...
* Augustinas Normantas * Armanas Abramavičius *
Kęstutis Lapinskas Kęstutis Lapinskas (29 January 1937) is an expert of Constitutional law and former President of Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, who replaced Egidijus Kūris at this position. Kęstutis Lapinskas is one of the signatory of the Ac ...
* Zenonas Namavičius *
Jonas Prapiestis Jonas Prapiestis (born 2 August 1952) is a Lithuanian judge, Professor of criminal law and politician, born in Kupiškis. In 1990 he was among those who signed the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania The Act of the Re-Establi ...
* Vytautas Sinkevičius * Stasys Stačiokas 2005-2008 *
Egidijus Kūris Egidijus Kūris (born 1961 in Vilnius, Lithuania) is a Lithuanian judge, professor and PhD in law. He is the former President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania and currently serving as a representative justice for Lithuani ...
(''President'') * Vytautas Sinkevičius * Stasys Stačiokas *
Kęstutis Lapinskas Kęstutis Lapinskas (29 January 1937) is an expert of Constitutional law and former President of Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, who replaced Egidijus Kūris at this position. Kęstutis Lapinskas is one of the signatory of the Ac ...
* Armanas Abramavičius * Zenonas Namavičius * Romualdas Kęstutis Urbaitis * Toma Birmontienė * Ramutė Ruškytė 2008-2011 *
Kęstutis Lapinskas Kęstutis Lapinskas (29 January 1937) is an expert of Constitutional law and former President of Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, who replaced Egidijus Kūris at this position. Kęstutis Lapinskas is one of the signatory of the Ac ...
(''President'') * Armanas Abramavičius * Zenonas Namavičius * Romualdas Kęstutis Urbaitis * Toma Birmontienė * Ramutė Ruškytė *
Pranas Kuconis In yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian martial arts, prana (, ; the Sanskrit word for breath, " life force", or "vital principle") permeates reality on all levels including inanimate objects. In Hindu literature, prāṇa is sometimes described as origina ...
* Egidijus Šileikis *
Algirdas Taminskas Algirdas (; , ;  – May 1377) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377. With the help of his brother Kęstutis (who defended the western border of the Duchy) he created an empire stretching from the present Baltic states to the Bla ...
2011-2014 * Romualdas Kęstutis Urbaitis (''President'') * Toma Birmontienė * Ramutė Ruškytė *
Pranas Kuconis In yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian martial arts, prana (, ; the Sanskrit word for breath, " life force", or "vital principle") permeates reality on all levels including inanimate objects. In Hindu literature, prāṇa is sometimes described as origina ...
* Egidijus Šileikis *
Algirdas Taminskas Algirdas (; , ;  – May 1377) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377. With the help of his brother Kęstutis (who defended the western border of the Duchy) he created an empire stretching from the present Baltic states to the Bla ...
* Dainius Žalimas * Egidijus Bieliūnas *
Gediminas Mesonis Gediminas ( – December 1341) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1315 or 1316 until his death in 1341. He is considered the founder of Lithuania's capital Vilnius (see: Iron Wolf legend). During his reign, he brought under his rule lands from th ...
2014-2017 * Dainius Žalimas (''President'') *
Pranas Kuconis In yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian martial arts, prana (, ; the Sanskrit word for breath, " life force", or "vital principle") permeates reality on all levels including inanimate objects. In Hindu literature, prāṇa is sometimes described as origina ...
* Egidijus Šileikis *
Algirdas Taminskas Algirdas (; , ;  – May 1377) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377. With the help of his brother Kęstutis (who defended the western border of the Duchy) he created an empire stretching from the present Baltic states to the Bla ...
*
Gediminas Mesonis Gediminas ( – December 1341) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1315 or 1316 until his death in 1341. He is considered the founder of Lithuania's capital Vilnius (see: Iron Wolf legend). During his reign, he brought under his rule lands from th ...
* Elvyra Baltutytė *
Vytas Milius Vytas Nagisetty (born March 8, 1971), known mononymously as Vytas, is an Indian-born musician. Vytas has recorded a number of film scores for American and French motion pictures, and has written songs appearing on soundtrack albums and numero ...
* Vytautas Greičius *
Danutė Jočienė Danutė Jočienė (; born 10 November 1970) is a Lithuanian judge and legal professional who served as the President of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania from 18 June 2021 until 17 March 2023. In December 2024, she was nominated by the acti ...
2017-2020 * Dainius Žalimas (''President'') *
Gediminas Mesonis Gediminas ( – December 1341) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1315 or 1316 until his death in 1341. He is considered the founder of Lithuania's capital Vilnius (see: Iron Wolf legend). During his reign, he brought under his rule lands from th ...
* Elvyra Baltutytė *
Vytas Milius Vytas Nagisetty (born March 8, 1971), known mononymously as Vytas, is an Indian-born musician. Vytas has recorded a number of film scores for American and French motion pictures, and has written songs appearing on soundtrack albums and numero ...
* Vytautas Greičius *
Danutė Jočienė Danutė Jočienė (; born 10 November 1970) is a Lithuanian judge and legal professional who served as the President of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania from 18 June 2021 until 17 March 2023. In December 2024, she was nominated by the acti ...
*
Gintaras Goda Gintaras Goda (; born 13 June 1965) is a Lithuanian judge, legal researcher, comparative criminal procedure expert and professor at the Faculty of Law of Vilnius University who is currently serving as President of the Constitutional Court of ...
* Daiva Petrylaitė * Janina Stripeikienė 2020-2023 *
Danutė Jočienė Danutė Jočienė (; born 10 November 1970) is a Lithuanian judge and legal professional who served as the President of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania from 18 June 2021 until 17 March 2023. In December 2024, she was nominated by the acti ...
(''President'') * Elvyra Baltutytė * Vytautas Greičius *
Gintaras Goda Gintaras Goda (; born 13 June 1965) is a Lithuanian judge, legal researcher, comparative criminal procedure expert and professor at the Faculty of Law of Vilnius University who is currently serving as President of the Constitutional Court of ...
* Daiva Petrylaitė * Janina Stripeikienė * Giedrė Lastauskienė * Algis Norkūnas *
Vytautas Mizaras Vytautas the Great (; 27 October 1430) was a ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He was also the prince of Grodno (1370–1382), prince of Lutsk (1387–1389), and the postulated king of the Hussites. In modern Lithuania, Vytautas is revere ...
2023-2026 *
Gintaras Goda Gintaras Goda (; born 13 June 1965) is a Lithuanian judge, legal researcher, comparative criminal procedure expert and professor at the Faculty of Law of Vilnius University who is currently serving as President of the Constitutional Court of ...
''(President)'' * Daiva Petrylaitė * Janina Stripeikienė * Giedrė Lastauskienė * Algis Norkūnas *
Vytautas Mizaras Vytautas the Great (; 27 October 1430) was a ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He was also the prince of Grodno (1370–1382), prince of Lutsk (1387–1389), and the postulated king of the Hussites. In modern Lithuania, Vytautas is revere ...
* Tomas Davulis *
Aurelijus Gutauskas Aurelijus is a Lithuanian masculine given name, which is a variant of the Roman name Aurelius, and is derived from the Latin ''aureus'', meaning "golden" or "gilded".''Behind the Name''"Given Name Aurelius" Retrieved on 22 January 2016. The female ...
* Stasys Šedbaras


References


External links

* {{Authority control 1993 establishments in Lithuania Lithuanian constitutional law Judiciary of Lithuania
Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...
Courts and tribunals established in 1993