Ilie Bolojan, at the 2024 annual report meeting of the High Court of Cassation and Justice

Interim President Ilie Bolojan said on Monday that "without a functional, independent and efficient judiciary, our democracy could become even more fragile"."My presence is a sign of respect for you, for those who work at the High Court and for all those who work in the Romanian judicial system, a system that is a basic pillar of our country. It is an opportunity to reflect honestly and lucidly on the state of justice in Romania, because without a functional, independent and efficient judiciary, our democracy could become even more fragile," said Ilie Bolojan, at the 2024 annual report meeting of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ).He said that in recent years, the Romanian justice system has been operating in a complex context, mentioning some of the constant challenges faced by the judiciary, namely the heavy workload of the courts, the complexity of cases, legislative instability and the lack of clarity of some laws.The interim president considered that the efforts already undertaken by the ICCJ to make its own jurisprudence more accessible through a digital library and the steps taken to ensure a uniform practice are concrete steps towards strengthening confidence in justice."Effective justice is not only about functioning institutions, clear laws or procedures. Great public systems are made up of people serving our country. Romania has many professional magistrates with integrity. Since it is their task to establish judicial truth, society expects magistrates to be moral and professional benchmarks. I am grateful to all magistrates, who, through what they do, are a benchmark for other public systems, but especially for citizens, guaranteeing that their rights and freedoms are protected," added Ilie Bolojan.   According to him, the Romanian state is bound to ensure optimal conditions for magistrates to exercise their profession at the highest standards. "The implementation period of the 2022 - 2025 Judicial System Development Strategy will end this year, which is a good opportunity to assess the progress made and set ambitious and also realistic targets. The Romanian state has the duty to ensure optimal conditions for the magistrates to exercise their profession at top standards. An adequate modern infrastructure also means greater respect for citizens. This must be complemented by sufficient, qualified human resources, good management and fully functional institutions. There is also a need for faster judicial procedures, yet without affecting the quality of the act of justice," said Bolojan.He also stressed that digitalization must simplify the citizens' access to justice and reduce the bureaucracy that burdens the courts."The state and large public systems are required to keep up with these changes, and technology must become our ally, from tools that simplify and facilitate work to the communication of e-documents, easy access to electronic files or even streamlining certain administrative activities," Ilie Bolojan noted, remarking that a modern, functional and efficient judiciary is one where integrity, meritocracy and professionalism are basic values, and that the selection, promotion and evaluation of magistrates must be an exigent and impartial process, capable of offering equal opportunities to all those who wish to advance in the judicial system."The guarantee of professionalism is also ensured by the unbiased functioning of the Judicial Inspection, which is tasked with sanctioning disciplinary violations when appropriate, in accordance with the law and the Constitution of the country," he added.Ilie Bolojan also said that magistrates should be able to speak openly about what needs to be improved in the judiciary, without fear of consequences.He stressed that the lifting of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism or the existence of new justice laws does not mean that efforts for a modern judicial system are sufficient."A state's reinforcement happens on a daily basis, and justice is its foundation. No reform will be effective if it is viewed only as a legislative effort. Every judge or prosecutor, every lawyer, every clerk participating in the act of justice or official in the judicial system has a role in ensuring that the act of justice is not only fair, but is also perceived as such by society. Justice independence, efficiency and integrity are the pillars of a solid democracy. Strengthening them is not only a constitutional obligation, but also a moral duty towards every citizen who puts their trust in the Romanian state," the acting president also said.He pointed out that a modern, efficient justice system that respects the law and citizens and guarantees the protection of their fundamental rights is not a goal for the judicial system alone, or just for a part of the political class, but is a common aspiration that requires political will, professionalism and, above all, a correct relationship to the public interest, an effort to bring the justice system closer to the citizens, at their service.Bolojan also mentioned some systemic issues, specifically the excessively lengthy procedures that entail the risk of the statutes of limitation setting in; the lack of unitary practices in identical cases; the infrastructure that leaves much to be desired in certain courts; understaffing; the lack of a clear performance indicator, which leads to inefficiency; as well as the sometimes cumbersome access to justice for the ordinary citizen.  (Photo:https://www.presidency.ro/)