Lithuania proposes criminalising violence against judges

Lithuania’s Interior Ministry has proposed criminalising physical and psychological coercion against judges and allowing police employees to guard courts, LRT reported. The ministry registered amendments to the Criminal Code and Police Law this week.

The proposed amendments would add to the Criminal Code’s article on contempt of court. They would allow restrictions on liberty, arrest or imprisonment for up to four years for humiliating a court or judge through physical or psychological coercion.

Under the current law, contempt of court through insulting actions, words or writing related to a court or judge’s activities can carry several penalties, with imprisonment of up to two years being the strictest.

The ministry said the changes would strengthen judges’ protection against possible physical or psychological coercion and safeguard their physical and psychological integrity while they perform their duties.

The Interior Ministry also wants to amend the Police Law to allow the police to hire employees under employment contracts for specific security functions, including protecting courts. Such employees would have to meet good-reputation requirements under the Law on the Control of Weapons and Ammunition, fulfil certain personal and property security requirements and complete training approved by the police commissioner general.

The ministry said the changes would allow state budget funds to be used more efficiently and make the police system more flexible amid an ongoing shortage of police officers. Currently, only statutory officers may use force, special measures and firearms. Employees working under employment contracts perform technical or administrative duties and are not authorised to use force.

The proposals follow recent incidents involving attacks on judges and damage to court property. In May, after the Kaunas Regional Court rejected Remigijus Meška’s request to remove a judge from a case, he threw a document folder at the judge and damaged the glass and frame of a detention room. He was charged with contempt of court and disturbing public order.

A similar incident took place at the Kaunas District Court in January 2025. After a ruling unfavourable to Vilmantas Juodelė was announced, he threw chairs at the judge, damaged a television and struck the judge as she and a secretary tried to leave. He was found guilty at first instance last May and sentenced to eight months in prison.

Under current legislation, police help maintain order in courts, but officers are required to be on duty only at the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Lithuania, the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania and the Court of Appeal of Lithuania.