Lithuanian president nominates Tomas Davulis for Constitutional Court chief justice

The Lithuanian parliament received on Tuesday a nomination from President Gitanas Nausėda to appoint judge Tomas Davulis as the next chief justice of the Constitutional Court, state news agency ELTA reports.

Andrius Kabišaitis, the president’s chief advisor, presented the candidacy, stating that Nausėda’s choice was based on Davulis’s “competence and experience necessary for the role, as well as his ability to ensure the court’s international cooperation.”

Davulis, a professor with 28 years of legal, academic, and pedagogical experience, previously served as dean of Vilnius University’s Law Faculty. He has contributed to legislation and built expertise in human rights, earning what Kabišaitis called “an unquestioned authority among legal professionals.”

Addressing lawmakers, Davulis described the nomination as “the highest professional recognition for a jurist” and pledged, if appointed, to enhance the court’s accessibility, visibility, and engagement. He stressed the need to strengthen judicial dialogue at both national and international levels.

“The first task of the chief justice is to ensure the smooth operation of the institution, maintain a competent team, and foster a positive work environment,” Davulis said. “The most important challenge is to organize and moderate discussions among judges from different legal backgrounds, generations, and perspectives.”

The Seimas Legal Affairs Committee will now review the nomination. Nausėda signed the decree proposing Davulis in late March. Currently a Constitutional Court judge since 2023—also appointed by Nausėda—Davulis would succeed Gintaras Goda, whose term recently ended. Judge Vytautas Mizaras is acting as interim chief justice.

The nine-justice Constitutional Court, whose members serve single nine-year terms, saw three new appointees in March: Artūras Driukas (nominated by the Supreme Court), Haroldas Šinkūnas (by the president), and Artūras Drigotas (by the Seimas speaker). Candidates must be Lithuanian citizens of impeccable reputation with at least 10 years of legal or academic experience.