[Estonia] Supreme Court payroll costs will rise by €1m in 2024

Estonia’s Supreme Court has requested a further one million euros towards labour costs for 2024, ERR reports.

An explanatory letter stated, "The requested additional funds are necessary to solve interrelated problems."

"The 'root cause' is the significantly larger departure of judges out of the judicial system in the period 2022-2026, during which time 67 judges will reach retirement age," the letter continued.

The letter also reportedly requests that the same level of funding increase be included in the state budget strategy through to 2027.

The retirement of a significant number of judges - particularly from the first-tier (county and administrative) and second-tier (circuit) courts - will lead to a higher number of court clerks and advisers (Kohtunõunik) becoming judges than is ordinarily the case.

"At the same time, it is the most experienced judicial advisers who become judges," the explanatory letter said.

"Whereas the usual [staff] turnover rate means one or two less experienced employees can be hired for the wider benches, in the period 2024-2028, in order to ensure the work capacity of these benches, hiring mostly very highly qualified employees is needed and, meaning very high salary expectations."

The letter reportedly states that the average salary of Supreme Court staff is generally lower, and sometimes significantly lower, than that of other constitutional institutions.

The Supreme Court's 2024 labour costs are forecast at €2.35 million, based on the salary rate index for top civil servants plus the coefficient of the professional salary set by law in respect of judges, as well as the management bonuses prescribed by law for the chairs of the court, and the benches.

The letter notes that judges' wages arise solely from complying with the law.

In addition, the Supreme Court said it needs additional money to fulfil IT requirements (€57,600) and towards external communication and cooperation matters (€11,500).

The Supreme Court's 2024 budget is reportedly set at €8.16 million, of which approximately €2.5 million relates to accounting expenses, €215,000 to depreciation and €50,557 to expenses from external funds.

Source: ERR

(Quotes via orignal reporting)

Estonia’s Supreme Court has requested a further one million euros towards labour costs for 2024, ERR reports.

An explanatory letter stated, "The requested additional funds are necessary to solve interrelated problems."

"The 'root cause' is the significantly larger departure of judges out of the judicial system in the period 2022-2026, during which time 67 judges will reach retirement age," the letter continued.

The letter also reportedly requests that the same level of funding increase be included in the state budget strategy through to 2027.

The retirement of a significant number of judges - particularly from the first-tier (county and administrative) and second-tier (circuit) courts - will lead to a higher number of court clerks and advisers (Kohtunõunik) becoming judges than is ordinarily the case.

"At the same time, it is the most experienced judicial advisers who become judges," the explanatory letter said.

"Whereas the usual [staff] turnover rate means one or two less experienced employees can be hired for the wider benches, in the period 2024-2028, in order to ensure the work capacity of these benches, hiring mostly very highly qualified employees is needed and, meaning very high salary expectations."

The letter reportedly states that the average salary of Supreme Court staff is generally lower, and sometimes significantly lower, than that of other constitutional institutions.

The Supreme Court's 2024 labour costs are forecast at €2.35 million, based on the salary rate index for top civil servants plus the coefficient of the professional salary set by law in respect of judges, as well as the management bonuses prescribed by law for the chairs of the court, and the benches.

The letter notes that judges' wages arise solely from complying with the law.

In addition, the Supreme Court said it needs additional money to fulfil IT requirements (€57,600) and towards external communication and cooperation matters (€11,500).

The Supreme Court's 2024 budget is reportedly set at €8.16 million, of which approximately €2.5 million relates to accounting expenses, €215,000 to depreciation and €50,557 to expenses from external funds.

Source: ERR

(Quotes via orignal reporting)