Around 300 magistrates attend General Assembly of Judges

About 300 magistrates are taking part today in the General Assembly of Judges. The event began with a speech by the President of the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM), Sergiu Caraman.

At the beginning of the meeting, Sergiu Caraman mentioned that, out of the 352 judges employed in the system, 275 judges were registered. In this context, the meeting of the General Assembly of Judges is declared deliberative.

The session started with the judges honoring the national anthem and the state flag. Present at the meeting are the head of state, Maia Sandu, and the leadership of the Ministry of Justice.

“We are gathered here today to reflect on the path of justice in the Republic of Moldova, at a time when responsibility for the rule of law is not only a professional duty, but a historic mission. The presence of the highest state officials and of our European partners confirms that an independent judiciary is the backbone of our democracy. It is a coincidence that today, March 27, we are marking a symbolic moment – the Union of Bessarabia with Romania in 1918. This is not just a date on the calendar, but also a lesson in dignity offered by our forebears, many of them magistrates, who placed the law in the service of the national ideal. Let us remember today those emblematic figures who signed the Act of Union and contributed to building the legal foundations of this space and who fought for the constitutional rights of the people of Bessarabia. These people were not merely legal officials. They were the architects of the rule of law, those who laid the foundations of a functional society guided by professionalism and integrity,” Caraman stated.

According to the head of the CSM, the judicial system is facing significant pressure:

“The high number of cases – over 340,000, of which approximately 100,000 are still pending – confirms that the staff shortage and overburdening remain major challenges. Justice is, however, the central element of our country’s European course. Your decisions, dear colleagues, are the ones that validate this path. Without a credible system, no economic or social reform can be complete.”

He said that the immediate objectives of the judicial system are clear: filling vacant positions through fair competitions, ensuring salaries commensurate with responsibility, redistributing the workload to prevent professional burnout, fully digitalizing the system through the E-File platform, as well as strengthening the physical security of courts, including by establishing a judicial police.

“Dear colleagues, your work is often marked by pressure and high expectations, yet it remains essential for the functioning of the state and for citizens’ trust in justice,” Caraman concluded.

Also during today’s assembly, the Activity Report of the Superior Council of Magistracy and of the judicial system for 2025 is to be presented, the Regulation on the functioning of the General Assembly of Judges is to be approved, and the amendments to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Judges are to be adopted. Around 400 magistrates are working in the courts of the Republic of Moldova.