As announced in a press release by the Kaunas District Court, on the same day a presentation of the newly appointed court chairperson was held at the Kaunas premises. The event was attended by Marius Bartninkas, Chairperson of the Kaunas Regional Court, Tomas Romeika, Chairperson of the Civil Cases Division of the Kaunas Regional Court, judges of the Kaunas District Court, and court staff.
Read more Neurologist’s advice: these three products he eats every day
On behalf of the court community, the new court chairperson was congratulated by Vita Padriezaitė, Deputy Chairperson of the Kaunas District Court for criminal cases. A congratulatory speech was also given by M. Bartninkas, Chairperson of the Kaunas Regional Court.
“I perceive the duties of the court chairperson primarily as a service both to society and to the court and its community, as a responsibility not only for court administration and ensuring the smooth administration of justice but also for uniting the entire court community, preserving a competent team, creating a good working atmosphere, and increasing public trust in the court.
So, as before, I intend to continue building my value as a leader through people, because the court must be not only formally just but also understandable, respectful, transparent to people, and for those working in the court – a workplace to which one wants to return,” noted Sigita Meškauskienė, Chairperson of the Kaunas District Court.
On behalf of the entire Kaunas District Court, flowers and a framed decree of appointment by the President of the Republic of Lithuania to the position of court chairperson were presented to the newly appointed court chairperson.
The first female chairperson
At the end of June, at the meeting of the Selection Committee for Judicial Candidates, Judge S. Meškauskienė was named as one of the most suitable candidates for the position of Chairperson of the Kaunas District Court. Her candidacy was chosen by the President of the Republic of Lithuania and approved by the Judicial Council.
As previously stated by the chief presidential legal advisor Andrius Kabišaitis, an anonymous employee survey conducted at the Kaunas District Court, in which 151 respondents participated, shows that a large portion of the court staff who took part in the survey support S. Meškauskienė.
She is the first woman in this position since 1878, when the Kaunas District Court building was constructed. There have been women acting in the position temporarily, but no woman has been officially appointed as chairperson.
The Kaunas City District Court is the second largest in Lithuania, with its divisions located in several cities, so S. Meškauskienė herself emphasized the importance of internal communication. She identified improving the psychological climate as one of the challenges she will face.
She also noted that the situation is complicated by a debt of about 600 thousand euros accumulated by the court.
S. Meškauskienė has been a judge at the Kaunas District Court since 2012. She handles criminal and administrative offense cases and actively participates in court self-governance activities – since 2024, she has been a member of the Judicial Council and a member of the Legal Acts Drafting and Evaluation and Communication Committees.
Predecessor’s scandal
Until April 2025, the Kaunas District Court was headed by Arūnas Purvainis. In October last year, the Judicial Honor Court issued him a reprimand for ethical violations at work in communication with other judges and staff.
It was then stated that the court leader was inappropriate, rude, disrespectful to others, insulted them, and undermined colleagues’ work in the workplace. Due to disrespectful and offensive communication, several court employees left their jobs.
“I would really like to wish that neither in the near nor distant future the Judicial Council would have to consider any complaints regarding this court. I believe it will be possible to unite the team, all judges, and raise the court’s image,” said Danguolė Bublienė, Chairperson of the Judicial Council, to journalists.
Read more “Sodra” warns: unpaid contributions accumulate debt
