More than 500 Romanian magistrates have denounced what they say are systemic abuses in the judiciary as President Nicusor Dan called judges and prosecutors for consultations on the situation.
Business leaders backed the letter on Friday calling on the government to boost transparency and protect magistrates who speak out.
The action came after a documentary aired this week claimed that politically-appointed chief judges have perverted the system, including questionable acquittals and disciplinary action for judges or prosecutors who complain.
Judges and prosecutors signed an open letter published on social media detailing “profound and systemic dysfunction” in the justice system.
“Truth and integrity must not be penalized but protected. Silence is not an option when the values of the profession are threatened,” the letter says.
The move came after a Romanian judge sensationally interrupted a press conference on Thursday and claimed honest judges were being ‘terrorized’.
“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,” she said.
Brussels kept Romania’s justice system under special monitoring after it joined the EU in 2007 but it was lifted in 2023. Since then, the pace of anti-corruption cases has slowed and judges have issued some high-level acquittals that have raised concerns about the fairness of the sentences.
Some judges and prosecutors who have spoken out against alleged systemic abuses over the years have been transferred, demoted, investigated or even fired.
Romanian business leaders backed the open letter on Friday, saying the government should be ready to amend laws if necessary, boost transparency and protect magistrates who speak out.
On Thursday, some 1,000 Romanians protested in Bucharest in response to the “Captured Justice’ documentary, chanting “Justice, not corruption”.
Judges slammed the documentary by independent media outlet Recorder claiming it tarnished the reputation of the justice system.
President Dan said he would hold consultations with members of the judiciary on December 22. When so many magistrates complain of “an integrity problem in the justice system, things are very serious”, he said.
Romania’s president appoints chief judges and prosecutors.
