õigussüsteemini

Õigussüsteemini refers to the Estonian legal system. It is a civil law system, meaning that its primary source of law is codified statutes and legislation, rather than judicial precedent. The Estonian legal system has been significantly influenced by German and Swedish legal traditions, and since regaining independence in 1991, it has undergone extensive reforms to align with European Union standards.

The structure of the Estonian court system is hierarchical. At the lowest level are the district courts (maakohtud), which handle most civil, criminal, and administrative cases. Above the district courts are the circuit courts (ringkonnakohtud), which act as appellate courts for decisions made by the district courts. The highest court in Estonia is the Supreme Court (Riigikohus). The Supreme Court has two chambers: a constitutional review chamber and a civil, criminal, and administrative chamber.

Key institutions within the Estonian õigussüsteemini include the Ministry of Justice, which is responsible for developing and implementing legal policy, and the Prosecutor's Office, which represents the state in criminal proceedings and oversees criminal investigations. The legal profession is also regulated, with requirements for education and licensing for lawyers and judges. The emphasis in the Estonian legal system is on accessibility, efficiency, and the rule of law.