The General Assembly of Judges is to convene in autumn to elect five new members of the Superior Council of Magistracy from among judges of all levels for posts that are to be declared vacant in connection with the expiration of the terms in office. The candidates from among professors of law for the posts that will be vacated soon are to be proposed by the Parliament’s legal commission for appointments and immunities and are to be approved by Parliament.
The Superior Council of Magistracy includes judges and professors of law. The president of the Supreme Court of Justice, minister of justice and prosecutor general are ex office members of the Council. Six Council members from among judges, including two substitute members, are chosen by the General Assembly of Judges by secret vote. These represent all the levels of courts of law.
Contacted by IPN, the Superior Council of Magistracy’s spokeswoman Carolina Mangir said the Council’s plenum will decide the date of the meeting of the General Assembly of Judges at least two months beforehand, by adopting a decision in this regard. As the General Assembly of Judges is usually held in October, the Superior Council of Magistracy’s announcement concerning its convocation is to be published in August.
The terms in office of two of the members of the Superior Council of Magistracy – Dumitru Visternicean and Anatolie Turcan – expire on October 18. In November, the seat will be vacated by Nina Cernat, while in January Victor Micu will leave the post of president of the Superior Council of Magistracy. Vera Toma will vacate her seat next March. Of the current composition, Dorel Musteata will continue to hold the post of Council member. He was chosen for this post at the General Assembly of Judges of October 2014.
Another three members of the Superior Council of Magistracy are chosen by Parliament from among professors of law, by a majority of votes, at the suggestion of at least 20 MPs, taking into account the opinion of representatives of the parliamentary opposition. Thus, the candidates named by the legislature will replace Gheorghe Avornic, Violeta Cojocaru and Teodor Carnat, who were named by Parliament in December 2013.
The members of the Superior Council of Magistracy from among professors of law cannot be chosen for two consecutive terms.
