Judges refuse to aid PM Tariceanu

After the motion to bring down the Liberal government, the first measure was to change the components of the special presidential commission in charge with approving criminal investigations on dignitaries – members of the Parliament and ministers.

The Tariceanu cabinet decided that all members of the commission should be judges appointed by the Supreme Judges’ Council.

As a first reaction, professional associations of judges appeal to their fellow colleague not to accept any positions as such, arguing that „judges, according to the Constitution, can’t be part of any other institution than the general magistrature”.

„The independence of judging authorities would be affected”, the associations claim.

„In fact, judges become simple instruments in a battle foreign to the purpose and interests of Justice. Laws may be imposed and judges may be forced to abide, but consciences can’t be perverted, nor forced to meet the interests of a political class”, the appeal issued by the Romanian Judges’ National Union reads.

„The governmental ordinance is not Constitutional because it refers to an administration institution, typically submitted to the Executive, deprived of the essential attribute of the Justice powers: deciding on the cause tabled in front of this Commission”, the release explains.

The release is also supported by the „Romania Magistrates’ Association”, the „Bacau Appeal Court Judges’ Association”, the „Iasi Magistrates’ Association and the „Themis” Association in Constanta.