Who can be a judge?
A citizen of Estonia may be appointed as a judge if he or she:
- has acquired at least an officially certified Master's degree or a corresponding qualification in the field of law;
- has proficiency of the Estonian language at the level C1 provided for by the Language Act or a corresponding level;
- is of high moral character;
- has the abilities and personal characteristics necessary for working as a judge.
Who can not be a judge?
The following may not be appointed as a judge:
- persons who are convicted of a criminal offence;
- persons who have been removed from the office of judge, notary or bailiff;
- persons who have been expelled from the Estonian Bar Association;
- persons who have been released from the public service for a disciplinary offence;
- persons who are bankrupt;
- persons whose professional activities as an auditor have been terminated except termination on the basis of the application of an auditor;
- persons who have been deprived of the qualification of a patent agent, except deprivation of qualification on the basis of the application of a patent agent;
- persons who have been deprived of the profession of a sworn translator on the basis of clause 28 (3) 3) of the Sworn Translators Act.
Appointment as a judge
The following may be appointed as judge of a county or administrative court:
- persons who have at least five years of experience in a job or position that requires at least an officially certified Master's degree or a corresponding qualification in the field of law;
- persons who have worked as a law clerk or an advocate general for at least three years;
- persons who have passed the judge’s examination or have been exempted from it.
Persons who are experienced and recognised lawyers and have passed the judge’s examination or been exempted from it can be appointed as judges of the circuit court.
Persons who are experienced and recognised lawyers and can be appointed as judges of the Supreme Court.
The suitability of the personal characteristics of a person applying for the position of a judge is assessed by the judge’s examination committee, and they must pass the security check carried out by the Estonian Internal Security Service.
Judges of the first and second instances are appointed to office by the President of the Republic on the proposal of the Supreme Court en banc. The Supreme Court en banc first considers the opinion of the full court concerning a candidate. Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed to office by the Riigikogu on the proposal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court first considers the opinion of the Supreme Court en banc and the Council for Administration of Courts concerning a candidate.