The state prosecutor requested on September 3rd that lay judge Aarne Saar be removed from the court. Harju County Court found the request justified. As a result, Saar was removed from the criminal case related to Danske Bank.
The court president, Liina Naaber-Kivisoo, stated that bringing charges against a lay judge raises doubts about the independence and fairness of the court. This is important, especially when the court has to consider criminal cases. If a judge is charged, they cannot continue handling court cases.
The removal of the lay judge does not hinder the investigation of the criminal case. If the proceedings are lengthy, the court uses substitute lay judges. These individuals fulfill the duties of a lay judge when the regular lay judge cannot continue their work. The court will continue to review the Danske Bank case on Thursday. The investigation is expected to conclude in the spring of 2026.
Lay judges participate in the investigation of crimes in county courts. They work alongside professional judges and have equal rights in decision-making. A lay judge must be an Estonian citizen of at least 25 years of age with no criminal record. The decision to remove a judge cannot be appealed.