Judicial Council approves candidates for heads of Kaunas and Tauragė district courts

The Judicial Council has endorsed the candidacies of Sigita Meškauskienė and Loreta Bajorinienė as the proposed heads of the Kaunas and Tauragė district courts, respectively, following their selection by President Gitanas Nausėda.

Meškauskienė and Vaida Motiejūnienė were initially deemed the most suitable candidates to lead the Kaunas district court in an earlier selection process. However, the president did not confirm the results of the June selection, prompting a second round.

A special commission evaluated Meškauskienė’s professional work and legal expertise, deeming it excellent and meeting all legal requirements. An anonymous survey of 151 court employees also showed strong support for her candidacy, citing her diligence, organisation, and communication skills.

If appointed, Meškauskienė would become the first official female head of the Kaunas district court since its establishment in 1878. She highlighted her priorities, including ensuring continuous justice, addressing judicial workload imbalances, and improving internal communication. She also acknowledged the challenge of managing the court’s accumulated debt of around €600,000.

Meškauskienė has served as a judge at the Kaunas district court since 2012, handling criminal cases, and is a member of the Judicial Council. Previously, she worked as an assistant judge at the Kaunas Regional Court and in other state institutions.

Former court head Arūnas Purvainis left his position in April 2025. Last October, the Judicial Honour Court issued him a reprimand for ethical violations, including disrespectful and demeaning behaviour towards colleagues, which contributed to staff resignations.

Meškauskienė expressed hope that the Judicial Council would not need to address any further complaints about the court in the future.