Nearly 80% Of Courthouses In Romania Halted Front Desk Activities – Judicial Auth

RNAG said in a press release that the network, which includes one judge from each courthouse, was established to provide judges and the public opinion with accurate information regarding protests set up by courthouses countrywide.

According to the same source, in the wake of General Assemblies, the High Court of Justice and 12 courts of appeals, out of a total 15, adopted decisions until September 1 as regards setting up protests.

Thus, the courts of appeals in Alba-Iulia, Bucharest, Cluj, Constanta, Galati, Oradea, Pitesti, Suceava, Ploiesti, Iasi, Brasov and Targu Mures decided to cease front desk activities. The remaining three courts of appeals will set up General Assemblies in the upcoming period, depending on leaves and the schedule of their activities.

In addition, 31 courthouses set up General Assemblies of Judges until September 1, while the remaining courthouses will set up General Assemblies until September 3.

"About 80% of courthouses in Romania resorted to various forms of protest, as of August 31, 2009 until September 1. All these courthouses decided to cease front desk activities, most of them as of September 1, 2009, and the rest as of September 7, 2009," the press release also read.

Several prosecutors’ offices affiliated to courthouses decided to back judges’ protests and to resort to various forms of protests, such as halting criminal probes, hearings and related proceedings.

Judges countrywide demand salaries equal to the salaries of the legislative and executive powers, according to the decisions made in the General Assemblies Centralized by the RNAG so far.

Magistrates also urge the High Court of Justice to notify the Constitutional Court to further check the unconstitutionality of the unitary pay law in the public sector.

On August 28, Bucharest Court vice-president Laura Andrei said the magistrates would cease all activities starting August 31, except the preventive measures trials and those involving the placement of minors, while judges will refuse assignments to electoral offices.

Andrei said the General Assembly of Judges that convened on August 27 noted issues with the unitary wage law, saying the law infringes article 1 of the Constitution, which refers to equality among the three state powers.

Starting August 31, the Bucharest Court will only rule in criminal trials involving preventive measures and the civil trials involving the placement of minors, Andrei added.

Court staff will refuse assignments to electoral offices. Starting September 1, the auxiliary staff and the union members will cease all front desk activities.

Andrei added the magistrates will also consider other forms of protest against the unitary wage law, after the talks between the High Council of Magistrates (CSM), judiciary associations and Government.

On August 30, the Romanian Government decided to offer the judicial power “adequate positioning" in the unitary wage grid, comparable to the other powers of the state, respectively the legislative and the executive, sources close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

"Prime Minister Emil Boc and the ministers agreed to offer judicial power adequate positioning in the wage grid, comparable to the other powers of the state, respectively the executive and the legislative," the sources said, adding the aim was to remove the “existing dysfunctions” in the initial form of the law.