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The Panevėžys Regional Court has dismissed the appeal of a judge of the Lithuanian Cynological Society regarding a decision by the Vilnius City District Court, which upheld the Lithuanian Cynological Society's (LKD) resolution to suspend judge E. B.'s credentials for two years for multiple violations of the Code of Ethics.

The Regional Court, having examined the case based on E. B.'s appeal, established that the penalty of suspension was imposed on E. B. because, in his capacity as president of the Lithuanian Sighthound Owners' Club, he unilaterally decided to prohibit his colleague D. K. from completing her internship. The court concluded that the minutes of the Lithuanian Sighthound Owners' Club board meeting, which E. B. relied upon, were drafted and signed under circumstances different from those stated therein, as no actual meeting had taken place.

Furthermore, E. B. publicly expressed unfounded and unconfirmed opinions regarding the alleged illegality of a dog show held in Alytus in December 2023. The court determined that E. B. lacked the competence to independently evaluate the legality of shows and, while holding a high-ranking position, damaged the image and reputation of the LKD and its members by exerting pressure on judges and organizers.

The Regional Court concluded that E. B. violated all requirements of the LKD Code of Ethics points specified in the minutes of the Bureau of the LKD Conformation Judges’ Panel by publicly disseminating unconfirmed information about the show's illegality. Witnesses confirmed that upon receiving calls from E. B., in his capacity as chairman of the LKD Conformation Judges’ Panel (the Panel) and the Bureau of the LKD Conformation Judges’ Panel (the Bureau), they became anxious and believed they faced disqualification if they judged at that show, which harmed the organization's activities.

In his appeal, E. B. maintained that the 2-year suspension was an individual disproportionate and overly harsh penalty. However, the Regional Court’s judicial panel disagreed with this argument. Consideration was given to the nature and intensity of the violation (multiple violations were identified) and the fact that E. B., as chairman of the Panel and the Bureau, was required to adhere to higher standards of professional conduct.

"The plaintiff was not given the harshest possible penalty (removal from the judges' list). The plaintiff is an LKD conformation judge and was the chairman of the Panel and the Bureau; therefore, the misconduct committed by the plaintiff cannot be equated to the misconduct of an assistant," the judicial panel stated.

The court also rejected the appellant's arguments that the Panel did not have the right to approve the Bureau's decision. The court noted that the Regulations for Conformation Judges of the Lithuanian Cynological Society grant the Panel the competence to review, evaluate, and change decisions made by the Bureau, as well as the power to leave a decision unchanged.

The judicial panel pointed out that the plaintiff participated in meetings of both the Bureau and the Panel, provided oral explanations, and even voted within the Panel, yet turned to the court without first exercising his right to appeal through internal procedures.

The ruling of the Panevėžys Regional Court takes effect immediately, but it may be appealed to the Supreme Court of Lithuania via cassation within three months.

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