Judges Evaluation Commission has new leadership: Andrei Bivol elected president, Marcel van de Wetering – vice president
The Judges Evaluation Commission, commonly referred to as the Vetting Commission, has announced a new leadership team. In a unanimous vote by its nine members, Andrei Bivol, a national member and former vice-president, was elected as the president of the Commission. Additionally, Marcel van de Wetering, an international member, was appointed as the vice-president.
The change occurs following Scott Bales’s retirement from the position of president and a planned internal reorganization. This is aimed at ensuring continuity in operations and the smooth progression of ongoing evaluation processes, as noted by the Commission.
“The new management team will ensure the efficient coordination of the Commission’s activities during the legally mandated period, upholding the principles of transparency, integrity, and impartiality that govern the process of external evaluation of judges,” states the institution’s press release.
Profiles of the new leaders of the Commission
Andrei Bivol is a lawyer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in civil, commercial, and administrative litigation. He has represented claimants in more than 40 cases before the European Court of Human Rights and has participated in international legislative analysis projects in finance and entrepreneurship, supported by the European Union, GIZ, and USAID.
Marcel van de Wetering, a citizen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is a senior criminal judge with over two decades of experience in the Dutch judicial system. He holds a law degree from the University of Utrecht and has authored legal commentaries on the Dutch Code of Criminal Procedure.
About the Judicial Evaluation Commission
The Judicial Evaluation Commission is an independent body established in the Republic of Moldova as part of justice reform. Its mission is to assess the financial, ethical, and professional integrity of judges and candidates for judicial positions.
The Commission was created by Law No. 65/2023 on the external evaluation of judges and candidates for the position of judge of the Supreme Court of Justice, in line with the Republic of Moldova's commitments in the European Union accession process. It consists of both national and international members selected for a limited mandate and works in collaboration with the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM).
To date, the Commission has notified 181 individuals subject to external evaluation. Of these, 99 assessments have been completed, resulting in 60 promotions and 39 non-promotions. Additionally, 63 individuals withdrew or resigned during the evaluation process, and 18 evaluations are still ongoing, with five cases having been re-evaluated.
According to data published by the institution, the overall promotion rate among completed evaluations is 37%, while approximately 30% of subjects resigned before completing the process, and 9% withdrew voluntarily.
