Ion Muruianu relieved from severe reprimand

The Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) today overturned a decision by the Superior Magistracy Council (SMC) to impose a severe reprimand on SCJ Chair Ion Muruianu as a disciplinary measure for controversial statements, Info-Prim Neo reports. SCM requested that one of the judges who heard the case, Nina Cernat, be excused on grounds that she had been appointed as SCJ Deputy Chairwoman by Muruianu himself. But the challenge was finally rejected. After nearly two hours of deliberation, the three-judge panel issued an irreversible decision revoking the disciplinary sanction against Muruianu. One judge had a dissenting opinion, it was reported. The Constitutional Court earlier revoked Parliament's decision to dismiss Muruianu from the post of SCJ Chairman. Both the dismissal and the reprimand came after Muruianu made some controversial statements, among others, calling journalists “rabid dogs”.