Moldova opens judge selection to curb severe judicial staffing deficit
Moldova's judicial watchdog launched fresh recruitment competitions to fill severe staffing shortages across appellate bodies, anti-corruption chambers, and the nation's highest court, the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) announced.
Recruitment drive across multiple tiers
Candidates may submit their applications until November 16, 2026, as authorities seek to fill dozens of vacancies threatening judicial efficiency. The competition includes one open vacancy at the Supreme Court of Justice, 15 positions within the specialized Anti-Corruption Chamber of the Chișinău Court, and multiple posts across the Centru, North, and South Courts of Appeal.
The supreme court post is uniquely open beyond career magistrates, inviting prosecutors, defense lawyers, and tenured legal scholars to apply. Candidates must provide formal wealth declarations alongside an institutional strategy plan. The Supreme Court of Justice currently operates at 60 percent capacity, with only 12 sitting judges out of 20 legally mandated seats.
Rigorous integrity vetting
Appellate court candidates must hold at least four years of bench experience, while contenders for the Chișinău Anti-Corruption Chamber require three years. Both specialized anti-corruption competitions mandate that candidates who clear the initial interview phase must undergo comprehensive external vetting to assess ethical and financial integrity.
The nation's judiciary faces a deepening personnel bottleneck, with fewer than 400 of Moldova's more than 500 judicial positions currently occupied.
“Operating with overwhelming caseloads exceeding 1,000 active files per judge severely undermines judicial quality and institutional resilience,” legal analysts noted, highlighting that structural turnover remains high amid ongoing European Union-backed anti-corruption overhauls.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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