Court Fees and Effective Access to Justice

Abstract

This legal research paper examines access to court, court fees and procedural circularity in Latvian civil proceedings through a case study of Zemgale District Court file No. 3-11/0775/46. It analyses the interaction between procedural deficiencies, an application for exemption from a EUR 1,050 State fee, and the requirement of practical and effective access to justice under Article 92 of the Latvian Constitution and Article 6(1) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Particular attention is given to proportionality, excessive procedural formalism and the effectiveness of statutory fee-relief mechanisms.