The magistrates of the Bucharest Court of Appeal will rule on January 19 in the case concerning the establishment of a committee to analyze justice laws

The magistrates of the Bucharest Court of Appeal will rule on January 19, after hearing on Monday the case brought by AUR party lawyer Silvia Uscov against the government led by Ilie Bolojan, regarding the establishment of a committee to analyze justice laws.

Reporter: Diana Surdu - "The court admitted the requests for intervention from the judges' associations, the Romanian Judges Forum and VeDem Just, the Declic community, and an individual, Eugen Nicodim. The Government Chancellery also requested to be a party to the case and was admitted. On the other hand, the request for intervention by retired judge Daniela Panioglu was rejected as inadmissible.

The plaintiff, lawyer Silvia Uscov, a member of AUR, was represented by a fellow defense attorney. They argued that by forming this committee to analyze legislation in the field of justice, the Romanian prime minister was in flagrant violation of the Constitution because it was not within his remit. They pointed out that the debate on justice laws falls exclusively within the remit of Parliament, the Superior Council of Magistracy, and the Ministry of Justice.

In the opinion of the two lawyers, this disrupts the work of magistrates and the proper functioning of a public service. In response, government representatives argued that the structure debating justice laws is advisory, makes recommendations and proposals, and has no power to legislate. Furthermore, the meeting of the Analysis Committee was attended by members of the Superior Council of Magistracy and the Union of Prosecutors of Romania, along with NGOs and representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Government Chancellery.

Translated by: Radu Matei