Supreme Court of Estonia
| Supreme Court of Estonia | |
|---|---|
| Riigikohus | |
 |
|
| Established | 21 October 1919 |
| Country | Estonia |
| Location | Tartu |
| Coordinates | 58°22′48″N 26°42′54″E / 58.380°N 26.715°ECoordinates: 58°22′48″N 26°42′54″E / 58.380°N 26.715°E |
| Authorized by | Constitution of Estonia |
| Judge term length | Life tenure |
| Number of positions | 19 |
| Website | Official site |
| Chief Justice of the Supreme Court | |
| Currently | Priit Pikamäe |
The Supreme Court of Estonia (Estonian: Riigikohus) is the court of last resort in Estonia. It is both a court of and a constitutional court. The courthouse is in Tartu.
With the First Constitution of Estonia and the Supreme Court Act, the Estonian Constituent Assembly established the Supreme Court of Estonia as a court of cassation on 21 October 1919. The first Justices of the Court were Kaarel Parts (Chief Justice), Paul Beniko, Rein Koemets, Jaan Lõo, Hugo Reiman, Martin Taevere and Peeter Puusepp. The Court first sat in Tartu Town Hall on 14 January 1920. During the centralisation of power in 1935, the Supreme Court was transferred to Tallinn, operating from a specially remodelled building on Wismari Street. When the Court last sat on 31 December 1940, it accepted an order by the government of the Estonian SSR to disband itself as of 1 January 1941.
When the Fourth Constitution of Estonia was adopted by referendum, the legal basis was created for the re-establishment of the Supreme Court. Rait Maruste was designated as the first Chief Justice. The re-established Court held its first hearing in Tartu Town Hall on 27 May 1993.
In 1919, a manor house on Aia street in Tartu was designated for the Supreme Court by the Government of Estonia. Moving to the designated building was delayed, though, because the building in question was used for the peace negotiations between Estonia and Russian SFSR; on 2 February 1920 the building hosted the signing of the Treaty of Tartu. The Supreme Court worked out of the Aia Street building during the period of 1920-1935. The building currently houses a secondary school - Jaan Poska Gymnasium. From 1935 until its disbandment in 1940, the Court sat in Tallinn, in a building on the current Wismari Street.
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