Government appointment powers for judicial inspectors and political control over judicial activity under Emergency Government Order No. 77/2018
Romania (RO)
Legislator summary
AI generatedThe High Court of Cassation and Justice’s Complete Panel for Resolving Questions of Law admitted a referral from the Administrative and Fiscal Section and ruled that Article II of Emergency Government Order No. 77/2018 does not grant the Government direct competence to appoint judicial inspectors nor create legitimate doubts that such prerogatives are used for political pressure or control over judges and prosecutors. The dispute concerned a preliminary reference regarding the interpretation of the Law on the Superior Council of Magistracy, specifically whether the emergency ordinance’s amendments to the appointment procedures for judicial inspector roles violated principles of judicial independence. The decisive legal basis is the interpretation of Article II of Emergency Government Order No. 77/2018 in relation to Article 67 of Law No. 317/2004, clarifying the limits of executive power in the appointment process and affirming the integrity of the Judicial Inspection's functional independence.
Legislator headnote
AI generatedart. 67 din Legea nr. 317/2004, art. 521 alin. (3) din Codul de procedură civilă; Government appointment powers for judicial inspectors and political control over judicial activity under Emergency Government Order No. 77/2018: 77/2018 does not grant the Government direct competence to appoint judicial inspectors nor create legitimate doubts that such prerogatives are used for political pressure or control over judges and prosecutors. The dispute concerned a preliminary reference regarding the interpretation of the Law on the Superior Council of Magistracy, specifically whether the emergency ordinance’s amendments to the appointment procedures for judicial inspector roles violated principles of judicial independence. The decisive legal basis is the interpretation of Article II of Emergency Government Order No. 77/2018 in relation to Article 67 of Law No. 317/2004, clarifying the limits of executive power in the appointment process and affirming the integrity of the Judicial Inspection's functional independence.
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Full text
ROMÂNIA
ÎNALTA CURTE DE CASAŢIE ŞI JUSTIŢIE
Completul pentru dezlegarea unor chestiuni de drept
Minuta deciziei nr. 15 Dosar nr. 2990/1/2021
Şedinţa de la 14 martie 2022
ÎN NUMELE LEGII
DECIDE:
Admite sesizarea formulată de Înalta Curte de Casație și Justiție – Secția de contencios administrativ și fiscal, prin Încheierea din 24 noiembrie 2021, pronunţată în Dosarul nr. 391/39/2021, privind pronunţarea unei hotărâri prealabile și, în consecință, stabilește că:
Dispoziţiile art. II din Ordonanţa de urgenţă a Guvernului nr. 77/2018 pentru completarea art. 67 din Legea nr. 317/2004 privind Consiliul Superior al Magistraturii, nu sunt de natură să confere Guvernului o competenţă directă de numire în aceste funcţii şi să dea naştere unor îndoieli legitime cu privire la utilizarea prerogativelor şi a funcţiilor Inspecţiei Judiciare ca instrument de presiune asupra activităţii judecătorilor şi a procurorilor sau de control politic al acestei activităţi.
Obligatorie, potrivit dispozițiilor art. 521 alin. (3) din Codul de procedură civilă.
Pronunțată în ședință publică astăzi, 14 martie 2022.