SCM extends the deadline for 20 anti-corruption judge positions to October 5
The Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) has extended the deadline for submitting applications for 20 vacant judge positions in specialized anti-corruption courts. This includes 5 positions at the Centru Court of Appeal and 15 positions at the Chisinau District Court. Candidates now have until October 5, 2026, to submit their applications.
On September 2, the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) extended the deadline for filling five vacant judge positions in the specialized anti-corruption panels at the Centru Court of Appeal. This competition was initially announced on July 21, 2026.
In a separate decision on the same day, the SCM also extended the deadline for selecting fifteen judges for the specialized anti-corruption panel at the Chisinau Court, another competition that was announced on July 21, 2026.
In both cases, applications can be submitted in person at the SCM headquarters in Chisinau or sent electronically to the institution's email address.
According to the SCM, each application must include the following documents:
- An application for participation in the competition
- A curriculum vitae (CV)
- A motivation letter outlining the candidate's vision for the anti-corruption court's activities
- Proof of training in the last three years in areas such as anti-corruption, criminal law, criminal procedure, ethics, and integrity
- A declaration of assets and personal interests
- A criminal record
- Statistical data on professional activity, including the number of pending cases, average duration of case resolution, and the number of decisions upheld or overturned in the last three years
Candidates for the panels of the Centru Court of Appeal must have a minimum of four years of experience as a judge, while candidates for the Chisinau Court Panel need at least three years of experience. In both cases, candidates must possess an impeccable reputation and demonstrate financial and ethical integrity.
The competition is conducted in two stages: the verification of the admissibility of the applications, followed by an interview. Candidates who pass the interview will subsequently undergo an external integrity assessment.
Why were these anti-corruption courts created
The specialized anti-corruption justice system was established by Parliament on July 3, 2025, through a legislative framework approved by the Venice Commission.
The Anti-Corruption College at the Chisinau Court is responsible for trying high-level corruption cases in the first instance. This includes cases involving individuals appointed to office by Parliament, the Presidency, or the Government, as well as senior civil servants or employees of the National Anti-Corruption Center in the performance of their duties. The court is also tasked with handling cases of unjustified asset confiscation initiated by the National Integrity Authority (ANI) and conducting judicial reviews of ANI decisions.
Additionally, the courts have jurisdiction over criminal cases in which the amounts of money or benefits involved exceed 500,000 lei, or the damage caused by the crime exceeds 5 million lei.
The Anti-Corruption College operates from a separate office in Chisinau under the leadership of the vice-president of the Chisinau Court and comprises a panel of 15 judges. Specialized panels of the Centru Court of Appeal, consisting of three judges each, will hear appeals and reassessments of decisions made by the Anti-Corruption College.
