Your rights in court

You may be represented by a lawyer when the case is examined in court. You shall have the right to receive free legal representation when applying to court for compensation for losses resulting from the crime. 

You shall have the right to have access to the case material and make copies of its documents. When making copies of the case-file, certain restrictions are applied, for example, copies of the case material related to under-age victims cannot be made. 

You shall have the right to submit requests to the judge examining the case: request to invite a witness or expert, include additional evidence, etc.

You shall have the right to request for the suspension of a judge examining your case, a prosecutor, expert, specialist or translator, if you have reason to believe that their participation in the case prevents it from being examined impartially. Such a statement must be made in writing, must be motivated and made on the legal grounds provided in Art. 58 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

You shall have the right to provide the court with evidence upon your own initiative, for example, items and documents which may have significant value in the proper investigation of the case. 

You shall have the right to be accompanied to court hearings by your chosen person – friend, close relative or employee of an organization providing support. The accompanying person may attend the hearing with you. The judge will provide information to the accompanying person about the procedure for attending court hearings. 

If you do not understand the Lithuanian language, interpretation services must be provided for you during the hearings, as well as the translations of the main documents. 

At the end of the court trial, you will be provided with the opportunity to make your last, concluding statement about the case – provide a closing speech. 

You shall have the right to make an appeal against a court decision to a higher court, if you disagree with such a decision. 

If participation in the court puts you at a risk of serious psychological distress, court hearings can be organized in a way that would reduce the threat posed to you, for example:

• Non-public hearing – if the trial includes sensitive issues related to private life, for example, regarding sexual crimes or if the case involves children, then only the participants of the trial will be allowed to attend the hearing.
• Asking questions indirectly – in order to limit direct contact with the accused and avoid additional stress, all questions during the hearing may be provided to you indirectly – through the judge or your representative.
• Non-attendance of the hearing – the court may allow you not to attend the hearing, in which case your testimony given during the investigation will be used in the hearing.
• Giving testimony remotely – in order to avoid contact with the accused, you will be allowed to give your testimony in a separate room. In this case, live broadcast of your interrogation will be shown to other participants of the hearing, and questions will be provided to you through the judge.