Former Lithuanian judge and MP Konstantas Ramelis dies at 89

Konstantas Ramelis, a former Lithuanian judge, member of parliament, and educator, has died at the age of 89, the Office of the Speaker of the Seimas announced on Friday.

Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas expressed condolences, calling Ramelis a “son of the Švenčionys region, a Lithuanian jurist, judge, and teacher.” He offered support to the family, colleagues, and the legal community, stating: “In this difficult hour, may memories of his work and life bring strength to his loved ones.”

Born in 1938 in Užupė, Švenčionys district, Ramelis began his career as a Lithuanian language teacher in 1957 after graduating from Švenčionėliai Pedagogical School. He later earned law and history degrees from Vilnius State University in 1968 and 1974, respectively.

His professional career included roles as director of Sariai Secondary School (1960–1970), judge and later chairman of Švenčionys District Court (1970–1994), and head of the Civil Cases Division at Vilnius Regional Court (from 1995). In 2008, he was elected to the Seimas as a member of the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union.