Высший административный суд Литвы
15 июля 2011 года
Facts
The applicant submitted a request to the State Guaranteed Legal Aid Service for secondary legal aid in preparing an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights against the ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania. The application was rejected on the grounds that the applicant was already receiving secondary legal aid in more than 3 cases, which was permitted by law.
Complaint
The applicant requested that the decision of the regional administrative court be overturned and a new decision be made on the grounds that the relevant legal regulations did not apply to his situation.
Court‘s ruling
The right to secondary legal aid is not absolute, inherent and unlimited. It is granted by the state itself, on its own initiative and at its discretion, and only to the extent that it is able to guarantee this right. The purpose of the secondary legal aid institution is to provide high-quality, effective and economically sound legal aid in defending the legitimate interests of those persons who need such aid the most.
After assessing the specific circumstances of the case, the court dismissed the appeal.