The Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) would be reformed, including by reducing the number of judges from 33 to 20, by providing access to CSJ judgeships for representatives of other legal professions and by reviewing the powers of the CSJ. A draft law to this effect was approved by the Government on Tuesday, 7 March.

According to the Executive, one of the objectives of the draft law is to “transform the CSJ into the main authority that will focus on ensuring uniform interpretation and application of legislation in the judicial system”.

Thus, according to the draft, the most important changes stipulate:

• The reduction of the number of judges in the CSJ from 33 to 20;
• changing the composition of the CSJ, by ensuring access to the posts of CSJ judge for representatives of other legal professions, such as lawyers, prosecutors, law professors;
• reviewing the competences of the CSJ, emphasising its basic role in unifying judicial practice.

“The reform of the CSJ is vital, but without essential changes at the level of the CSJ, it is not possible to strengthen the independence, integrity and individual responsibility of judges at the level of the other courts in the judicial system”, believes Justice Minister Veronica Mihailov-Moraru.

The government notes that the draft law has been subject to public consultation, and has been approved and assessed, including by the Venice Commission, and will have the effect of “increasing the quality of justice, ensuring that impartial and honest judges are appointed to the CSJ, and increasing citizens’ confidence in the judicial system”.