Resignations at Chisinau Court of Appeals Don't Signal Crisis, Says Parliament Speaker
Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu downplayed the recent wave of resignations at the Chisinau Court of Appeals, assuring the public that the Superior Council of Magistracy will find solutions.
Grosu stated that the Council will either hold competitions to fill the vacant positions or transfer judges from other courts.
The resignations come amid the implementation of mandatory integrity evaluations for magistrates, a process known as vetting. Grosu attributed the departures to the judges' discomfort with the evaluation process, calling them "refined" and "very sensitive to the political climate."
Veronica Dragalin, head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, expressed concern that the mass exodus from the Court could lead to case backlogs and delays. "If our goal is to secure final rulings, including imprisonment and asset seizures, then a functional Court of Appeals is essential," Dragalin remarked.
While 20 judges opted to resign rather than undergo vetting, another 20 magistrates have submitted the necessary documents for evaluation, including declarations of their assets and personal interests for the past five years. The Vetting Commission has assured swift processing of the applications and will request additional information from relevant public and private entities if necessary. Judges will be evaluated by two separate three-member panels from the Commission. Those who fail the evaluation will be dismissed from their positions and barred from working in the judicial system for a period of 5 to 7 years.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
