Estonian Judges Association has published a book of Estonian judges (not only members of the Association). The book includes:

•
 photos of every judge,
•
 his or her personal data, such as: date of birth,
date of nomination, membership of the Association,
•
 photos of the courthouses,
•
 statistics of the judiciary
   

This page provides some chapters of the book of Estonian Judges.
Foreword from Estonian Association of Judges Chairman Meelis Eerik:

Dear Reader,

The Estonian Association of Judges has the great honour of publishing a book
about the Estonian judiciary. This is a second book of its kind since Estonia regained its independence.

The book certainly has a historical and reference value as it lists the Republic
of Estonia judges presently in office, as well as those who have retired since Estonia once again became independent. I am firmly convinced that this compilation about the judiciary is part and parcel of an independent state’s attributes.

The book gives an insight into the judicial authority as the third ‘estate’ in a country. It also carries the idea of bringing judicial authority closer to the nation. Not particularly figuratively speaking, all the judges have their faces toward the people. These are the people who have developed the Estonian judicial system and, via judicial practice, also the Estonian legal order. The Estonian legal order may be said to have the face of all these people. Judges who have retired have been listed separately. Let this be a deep bow of appreciation to the work they have done and the contribution they have made to the development of our state based on the rule of law.

The book thus views our judicial system from the personal aspect. This gives a possibility for new analytical approaches at a time when several, often mutually exclusive values are simultaneously upheld and when court decisions (precedents) have increasingly more meaning. Perusing the book the reader will see that the Estonian judicial system is viable through its personal aspect. I believe that the viability of a system implies, amongst other things, a balance between stability and openness to new values. For example, the age scale of our judges shows that the judicial system is balanced for our state. Foreigners reading this book can compare our judicial system to their own and will certainly find things to think about as they explore the sources of similarities and differences. The book will certainly serve as a background for law historians and many other specialists and enthusiasts who wish to understand the development of the judicial system and practice.

Time will show whether this moment is the peak for Estonian judges as regards the size of the judiciary. Considering the development of legislation, it may be claimed that the judiciary might not grow in the future but can even shrink. This is why the publication of the book on judges at this moment is fully justified. Similar books in the future will show how the personal, age and other structures of the judiciary will change against the background of an increasingly wider-based development of legislation and judicial practice.

The Estonian Association of Judges owes thanks for the publication of this book to the Ministry of Justice with which the Association has had highly fruitful and smooth cooperation. We also thank all those who contributed to the compilation of the book.

Meelis Eerik
Estonian Association of Judges
Chairman



Foreword from Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Märt Rask:

Dear Reader,

You have in your grasp a 2006 book introducing Estonian judges. Ten years have passed since the publication of the first book of this kind. Times and
people have changed; the judicial systems, as well as our understanding of
fair administration of justice, have developed.

Although pictures take up most of the book, it should not be seen as the “family album” of the judiciary or the social vanity fair of the judges. Trying to answer the question of why we need this kind of a book would be –– a free-frame of the Estonian judges as of the year of publication, making the entire judiciary known to the public. Is it only to record memories and history? The thought jumps to one question after another, but there is probably more than one answer to each. Who is a judge in the eyes of society regarding his status: a public figure or a legal officer, who hides in his robe, seeing social life from the outside, and never shows himself to the public?

All the Estonian judges are independent and impartial persons, but what is the implication of those people as the judges’ corps for public order? If we wish to call the judiciary a corps, we should know who belong to the corps and what unites them.

Society’s ethical and moral requirements for judges are so high that they can
be compared to the requirements we have for the clergy. A clergyman is no doubt a public figure for his congregation as well as for all society; providing
an example is part and parcel of his life. Being the model of justice and law-abidance in service, as well as in daily life, is an essential part of a judge’s life. Being a judge does not nearly imply what is understood as the role of a public figure in the broadest sense, but keeping this job is impossible without a sense of mission, without seeing a social framework of justice behind the solving of each and every case. The judges’ special status, among public figures, alone requires that these people be known to the public.

The employer of judges is the Estonian nation as the holder of the highest state power. The holder of the highest state power has the right to know who administrates justice on behalf of the state. There are 245 judges’ positions in Estonia; filling these positions by public competition with legal professionals who have the suitable personal characteristics is not difficult, society holds the post
of a judge in high regard. This has not always been so. Without analysing the authority of the administration of justice and the factors that influence the attitude toward judges, it should be said that every judge can personally make
a fairly great impact on these –– toward an enhancement of authority, but even more towards a decline. It must be admitted that there is a stronger tendency
to enhance this authority.

A few more than two hundred voters do not change the course of society’s development, but an equal number of judges make up the third power of the state. In order to behave and act like the third power, the judges’ corps needs
to know each other. Judges meet a few times a year at their major events
where they discuss work and communicate. I am sure that at the next forum
and plenary of judges this book will offer much pleasure of recognition for both those who have just became judges and those who have not been forgotten after resignation.

I hope that the judiciary and the public will keep in close contact via this book and I would like to thank the Estonian Association of Judges for compiling this exceptionally welcome volume of work.


Yours respectfully

Märt Rask
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Statistical data about Estonian judges (01.01.2006)
 
Gender Statistics
Overall in Office:   The Supreme Court:
 
   men 90 (37%)    women 151 (63%)
 
   men 16    women 3
 
Circuit Courts:   County Courts:
 
   men 19    women 27
 
   men 50    women 101
 
Administrative Courts :    
   
   men 5    women 20
   
 
Number of Judges
Number of judge's positions : 245
Currently in office: 241, in which
 
     
    The Supreme Court 19
     
    Administrative Courts 25
     
    Circuit Courts 46
     
    County Courts 151
 
Average Age
Average age of judges in offices: 46,6 years
Agegroup
Supreme
Court
Circuit
Court
Administrative
Courts
County
Courts
All
up to 29 a
–
2
1
8
11
30–39 a
2
7
4
37
50
40–49 a
5
18
6
49
78
50–59 a
12
15
14
45
86
onwards 60a
–
4
–
12
16
Total
Judges
19
46
25
151
241
 
Average Tenure
Court
Years
Months
Days
The Supreme Court
13
7
1
Circuit Courts
13
7
25
County Courts
10
5
7
Administrative Courts
9
8
15
Total Average
11
2
23