Eesti NSV Ülemkohus
- Supreme Court of Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Dates of Existence
1941 and 1944-1991
History
After Soviet forces occupied Estonia in 1940 and Estonia was incorporated into the USSR the Estonian court system was restructured. The Soviet government created a court system in Estonia that corresponded to Soviet law. This system consisted only of district courts, called the People’s Courts, and a Supreme Court of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (ESSR). During the Soviet period the Supreme Court of the ESSR reviewed civil and criminal appeals as the court of second instance. It reviewed some cases as the court of first instance, for example, murder cases under aggravating circumstances, cases involving organized crimes, and cases of crimes against the state, including political cases.
Legal Status
The Supreme Court of the ESSR was the highest judicial body in the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic; its members were elected by the republic’s Supreme Soviet for a term of five years. The Supreme Court was composed of a civil and a criminal division; it met in plenary session as well a presidium. The Supreme Court of the ESSR was subordinatedto the Supreme Court of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
Rules and Conventions
EHRI Guidelines for Description v.1.0