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At the end of July, a new judge, Artūras Petkus, appointed to this position by decree of the President of the Republic of Lithuania, began working at Panevėžys Regional Court. The judge works in the Criminal Cases Division, where he hears criminal and administrative offense cases.

Artūras Petkus holds a Doctorate in Social Sciences (Law), having obtained his academic degree in 2007. From 1999 to 2016, he taught at Mykolas Romeris University, and subsequently spent ten years holding various positions in the Lithuanian Armed Forces (nine of which were spent seconded to the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence). In 2024–2025, he worked at the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania, and in 2025–2026, he served as the Head of the Legal and Personnel Department at the State Plant Service under the Ministry of Agriculture.

Artūras Petkus says that the idea of becoming a judge had been on his mind for a long time: "Everyone who studies law views becoming a judge as the peak of highest professionalism and career achievement. I believe that the acquired experience and personal maturity, once you attain the ability to evaluate processes more broadly, allow you to take this step and make such a decision."

Typically, to become a regional court judge, one is required to first serve at least four years in a court of first instance – a district court – and pass the judicial candidate exam. However, the law provides an exception for legal scholars. Doctors of Law are exempt from this exam and may apply directly to a regional court if they have at least five years of legal or pedagogical work experience.

A. Petkus's many years of teaching experience at Mykolas Romeris University and legal practice in state institutions and the Lithuanian Armed Forces fully meet the requirements laid down in legal acts. Following the completion of all selection procedures and the assessment of his professional qualities, the decision on the judicial appointment was made by the President of the country, upon the advice of the Judicial Council.

This procedure makes it possible to attract top-tier legal experts to higher instance courts, whose deep theoretical knowledge and versatile experience enrich the formation of judicial practice and the quality of case hearings.

When asked what he would wish for himself in his new job, Judge A. Petkus states that he primarily wants not to be disappointed with the experience he will gain: "I know there will be many challenges and new things. I wish for myself not to become set in my ways and for the work not to turn into a formal routine. I want every case to be examined with dedication and interest."

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