TRANSITION FROM DICTATORSHIP TO DEMOCRACY – THE PATH OF COURTS OF GENERAL JURISDICTION IN LITHUANIA

Abstract

Background. The establishment of an independent and effective judiciary is one of the fundamental elements of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Following the restoration of independence, Lithuania implemented a comprehensive judicial reform aimed at ensuring judicial independence, developing a professional judiciary, and improving the efficiency of the administration of justice. The purpose of this study is to analyze the main stages of Lithuania's judicial reform, the mechanisms for safeguarding judicial independence, and the factors influencing public trust in the judiciary.

Methods. The study employs historical-legal, comparative-legal, systemic-structural, and formal-legal research methods. The research is also based on the analysis of legal acts, decisions of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, statistical data, and doctrinal academic sources.

Results. The study demonstrates that Lithuania's judicial reform included the establishment of a four-tier system of courts of general jurisdiction, strengthening institutional judicial independence, creating the National Courts Administration, and implementing electronic justice mechanisms. At the same time, several challenges were identified, including issues related to judicial financing, judicial selection procedures, insufficient public trust in courts, and staffing difficulties concerning judicial assistants and court personnel.

Conclusions. The Lithuanian experience demonstrates the importance of institutional guarantees of judicial independence, effective judicial organization, and the digitalization of justice. At the same time, ensuring a high level of public trust in the judiciary requires not only legal reforms but also improvements in legal and political culture, judicial transparency, and adequate human resource support within the judicial system.