Justice Minister demands explanation from judge accused of assaulting wife

On September 21, Justice Minister Edvards Smiltēns demanded a written explanation from Raimonds Rinčs, chair of the Criminal Cases Court panel at the Zemgale Regional Court. The ministry acted in response to public allegations that the judge had physically assaulted his wife while under the influence of alcohol.

Rinčs must submit his explanation by September 23. The Justice Ministry said it had no prior information about the described events before they became public.

Minister's response

Smiltēns stated that violent behavior is incompatible with holding a judicial position, adding that the public is entitled to expect high standards of conduct and ethics from those who administer justice, both in the courtroom and in their private lives. He said the public allegations are serious, which is why he requested an explanation to clarify all circumstances before deciding on further action.

Possible consequences

Under the Law on Disciplinary Liability of Judges, the justice minister has the authority to initiate disciplinary proceedings against a regional court judge, after first verifying the circumstances and requesting a written explanation. A gross violation of judicial ethics standards can serve as grounds for disciplinary liability. Such cases are reviewed by the Judicial Disciplinary Collegium, which, after assessing the nature of the violation and other circumstances, decides on the appropriate measure — in the most serious cases, removal from office.

At this stage, the allegations against the judge have not been officially confirmed, and the process remains in its initial fact-finding phase.