Trust in courts increases by 13% over five years

According to the Court Administration, the SKDS survey conducted in June found that 45% of respondents trust the courts, up two percentage points from last year. Meanwhile, 40% expressed distrust, a decrease of four percentage points compared to the previous year. Over the past five years, trust in courts has increased by 13%.

The survey revealed that trust is higher among those who obtained information about court operations from official websites, while those relying on relatives' experiences tend to be more critical. Trust is most common among young people aged 18–24, respondents aged 35–44, individuals with higher education, ethnic Latvians, public sector employees, high-income earners, and residents of Vidzeme and Zemgale. Conversely, distrust is higher among people over 65, those with only primary education, non-Latvians, non-citizens, respondents with medium-low incomes, and residents of Latgale.

The survey also showed readiness to use electronic communication tools: 78% of respondents would use email for personal identification, 77% – internet banking, 60% – eID cards or e-signatures, and slightly less than half – video conferencing platforms. However, 11% reported having access to none of these technical solutions.

Awareness of state-provided legal services remains low: 53% know about state-funded legal aid, 40% about state compensation for victims of violent crimes, and only 28% about the victim support hotline 116006.

Additionally, 39% of respondents would consider alternative dispute resolution methods outside of court. Mediation was mentioned by 31%, while arbitration by 22%. Compared to last year, mediation recognition increased by two percentage points. The Court Administration attributes this positive trend partly to activities under the European Social Fund Plus project “Access to Justice,” as well as public information seminars and professional training sessions held across all regions.