(1) All persons are equal before the law and the court, and they have equal rights to the protection of the law.

(2) A court shall adjudge a trial irrespective of the origin, social and financial status, race or nationality, sex, education, language, attitude towards religion, type and nature of occupation, place of residence, or the political or other views of a person.

(1) Judicial proceedings in the Republic of Latvia shall be conducted in the official language. A court may allow also another language to be used in judicial proceedings if the parties, their advocates and the prosecutor agree to it.

(2) For a person who participates in a matter, but is not fluent in the language of the judicial proceedings, a court shall ensure the right to become acquainted with the materials of the matter and to participate in the court process with the assistance of an interpreter, as well as the right to appear before the court in the particular language, in which such person is fluent.

(1) In selecting a candidate for the office of a judge, the principle shall be observed that only Latvian citizens, who are highly qualified and fair lawyers, may work as judges.

(2) In the selection of judges, no discrimination based on origin, social and financial status, race or nationality, sex, attitude towards religion, type and nature of occupation, or political or other views is permitted. The requirement that a judge must be a Latvian citizen shall not be considered as discriminatory.

Rīga, 15 December 1992