A brave judge claimed honest judges were being ‘terrorized’ after a damning media investigation claimed the legal system had been ‘captured’ by Romania’s top judge and perverted to protect the elite from facing justice.
Bucharest Appeal Court judge Raluca Moroșanu sensationally interrupted a press conference on Thursday held with the purpose of defending the justice system to claim: “Management does not help us in any way. We are simply terrorized, you know with disciplinary actions and with everything you know is happening to us.”
“As an aside, I am not an undercover intelligence officer anywhere. I have been a magistrate all my life. I don’t want to describe what the atmosphere is like and how toxic and tense the situation we are in is,” she said in remarks broadcast around Romania.
More than 1,000 gathered Thursday evening outside the government headquarters to demand reforms in the justice system and the ouster of chief judge, Lia Savonea.
The protest and Morosanu’s comments came after a two-hour documentary published by investigative platform Recorder uncovered how High Court president Lia Savonea had allegedly ‘captured’ the justice system coordinating and controlling magistrates through a system of benefits and penalties and by developing institutional mechanisms to exonerate high-profile politicians and businessmen.
The investigation got more than 2 million views on YouTube in just over a day. Hundreds protested late Wednesday outside the Superior Council of Magistracy headquarters in Bucharest.
They chanted: “We want justice, not immunity”, “Independent not obedient magistrates!”, “Justice, not mafia”, “Integrity, not complicity.” They called for the resignation of Savonea president of the High Court of Cassation and Justice and justice minister Radu Marinescu.
Moroșanu who was widely praised for her bravery has worked as a magistrate for 26 years and been an Appeal Court judge for 19 years.
President Nicusor Dan and Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan on Thursday admitted the findings of the report were relevant and urged for further steps, with Dan calling for a meeting where judges could air their grievances. Meanwhile, Marinescu who is mentioned in the report as having acted previously as lawyer for politicians accused of corruption, declined any responsibility, citing the judiciary’s independence.
In the media investigation, magistrates disclosed how judges who fail to issue rulings in line with the informal recommendations of the alleged structure are removed from the cases involving high-profile defendants. Steps are taken to avoid or reverse final jail sentences for high-profile politicians and businessmen.
A series of court rulings reversing past jail sentences has been reported in recent months, based on a conflicting interpretation of the prescription procedures following a Constitutional Court decision not implemented by Parliament through amendments to the specific law. This best reflects the mechanism described by Recorder under which corrupt politicians have provided corrupt magistrates with impunity in exchange for protection.
In response to the documentary, President Nicusor Dan stated that “the simplest thing is to revolt” and “to throw the blame generically.” However, the head of state said he believes that “the solution to the problems raised is still within the justice system” and announced that he has started working on a report tackling the problems mentioned in the justice system.
President Dan also stated that the documentary presents both facts and opinions, “which need to be proven.”
In a previous statement, president Dan had admitted that he personally called on Savonea to convince her not to go ahead with the appointment procedure, but he was refused, even though the procedure was outside the legal calendar.
The president also said that a report with data on the problems in the justice system was being worked on: “I invite all magistrates to write to me directly about the problems they encounter and I assure them that I will personally read what they send me.”
In another reaction, the Judges’ Forum Association has called on the authorities not to ignore the “warning signs” raised in Recorder’s documentary and to adopt “bold reforms” without delay to strengthen the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, Agerpres reported.
Savonea sharply criticized the investigation published by Recorder, arguing that the testimonies featured are not supported by verifiable facts and contain statements that do not reflect reality.
In comments made on Euronews Romania, she said the presentation of the information creates an artificial perception of a “captured” judiciary, when, in her view, the material indicates instead attempts to reposition influence over the justice system from areas other than those selectively highlighted in public discourse.
Hundreds gather in Romanian capital to demand ouster of controversial High Court judge
