In February of this year, after the defendants threw water bottles at the judge who heard the case in the Vilnius City District Court, the Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Judges, Egidija Tamošiūnienė, calls for a discussion about the permanent presence of officers or security guards in the courts.
At Vilnius city district court in early February, during the examination of a criminal case on fraud, a dispute arose in the courtroom between the defendants and the judge. During the conflict, two defendants, whose handcuffs were removed, threw water bottles at the judge, but missed.
After the incident, a pre-trial investigation was started for contempt of court and violation of public order.
As the deputy chairman of the Council of Judges, judge of the Supreme Court of Lithuania (LAT) E. Tamošiūnienė told Elta, the aforementioned incident makes one worry about the safety of judges and other participants in the case in the courts.
"If there is a possibility to throw some kind of plastic bottles at the judge, then who could deny that other participants in the case could be attacked as well?" After all, when dealing with various disputes in cases, relations are often conflictual even in civil cases, let's say, family cases", E. Tamošiūnienė taught.
The member of the Council of Judges noted that usually there are officers on duty at those court hearings to which defendants, suspects, and arrestees are escorted. However, during other court hearings, according to R. Tamošiūnienė, neither officers nor security personnel are present in the courtrooms.
The interlocutor claimed that in the courts, at the judges' desks, there are so-called emergency buttons, which, after pressing, the judges can call for help. However, as E. Tamošiūnienė stated, this is only a theoretical possibility, because only a few courts in the country have officers or security guards on duty.
"If we are talking, for example, about the district court of the city of Vilnius, those emergency buttons are in every courtroom, but who will react?" After all, there are no officers," the judge said.
"Only a few courts have officers on permanent duty, for example in the Supreme Court of Lithuania, the Court of Appeal, the Vilnius District Court. (…) Some courts have agreed with police: if the police patrol the city, the court would be included in the patrol plan and the officers would pass by the court during certain periods. However, the question arises whether in such a case, in the presence of a conflict situation in the court, the officials would be able to react to it", continued E. Tamošiūnienė.
The highest courts should have more officers
According to E. Tamošiūnienė, the Council of Judges has set itself the goal of achieving the kind of financing of the judicial system that would allow more effective care of the safety of judges and other participants in the case during hearings. According to the judge, in order to achieve this goal, measures have already been taken, for example, judges' offices are separated from common rooms, and officers are on duty in some places.
However, according to a member of the Council of Judges, the incident that took place in the District Court of Vilnius City in February shows that the aforementioned measures are not enough.
"We assess the financial capabilities of the state and the courts, so we think that perhaps in some cases private protection could be used as well." For example, in the Vilnius district court, it is natural that more than one security guard would be needed, because many court hearings are held at the same time in this court. (…)
On the other hand, we are perfectly aware of reality. We really don't need an officer in every courtroom. We usually have an idea in which case the help of the officers may be needed. Then certain actions are planned. For example, the same case of January 13. During her examination, the assistance of police officers was coordinated," E. Tamošiūnienė taught.
The judge asserted that the additional financial need for the courts, as well as the need to allocate more funds for greater protection, is also discussed with the members of the Seimas. However, as E. Tamošiūnienė said, it often happens that money from the state budget has to be diverted to other priorities.
"That need (to allocate funds for the protection of the courts - ELTA) is often lost in the overall context of the needs of the judicial system due to the fact that the needs of the courts are not fully met. As a result, we distinguish certain priorities. For example, we usually ask for more money than they give us to support the employees of the judicial system who contribute to the administration of justice. I mean the support of assistant judges, court clerks, other staff, their salaries. Then those costs are cut for other needs," said E. Tamošiūnienė.
The chairwoman of TTK sees the need to start a discussion about security
Interviewed by Elta, chairwoman of the Seimas Law and Order Committee (TTK), conservative Irena Haase claimed that cases of attacks on judges in courts are not common. However, according to her, the incident in the district court of the city of Vilnius shows that it is necessary to discuss the protection of judges.
"If such cases occur, judges are at risk, then maybe we should start discussing how to better protect judges," said I. Haase.
It is true, according to the chairwoman of the TTK, if judges are attacked by those persons who are accompanied to court hearings by convoy officers, the situation should be discussed specifically with the officers.
"If there are outbreaks of aggression and when there is a convoy nearby, then maybe it is necessary to look at why the officers were not able to protect the other participants in the case, why the future aggression of the accused was not assessed," commented the MP.
Speaking about the safety of judges and other participants in cases during the judicial process, the chairwoman of the TCC did not name specific measures to ensure that safety - appoint more officers on duty to courts or provide funds for courts' private security. However, I. Haase repeated that she believes that the discussion on this issue should begin.
"I agree with the idea that a discussion should be started about the safety of judges - ELTA, because there is a possibility that there may be incidents in the court, perhaps taking into account the geopolitical situation. We cannot underestimate that. Such cases of aggression against judges may increase. It is necessary to discuss how to prepare for such cases, to see how the National Court Administration is prepared for this, what measures need to be taken, how much funds are needed for the implementation of those measures. (…) If the Council of Judges shows initiative, then we are always open to discussion and constructive conversation and certain decision options", explained the head of TTK.
Gytis Pankūnas (ELTA)
