Judicial staffing shortages cause delays and legal disputes in Moldova and Romania

Judicial systems in Moldova and Romania are facing significant challenges due to personnel shortages and vacancies. In Moldova, the Our Party (Partidul Nostru) has highlighted a crisis where 82 candidates are currently awaiting appointment to judicial positions. Some candidates have been waiting since graduating from the National Institute of Justice in 2020. This backlog has resulted in court schedules being pushed as far as 2027, 2028, and 2029, directly impacting citizens' ability to resolve disputes. The party is preparing a legislative project to accelerate the filling of vacant roles.

In Romania, a legal dispute has emerged regarding how judges are compensated for handling additional workloads caused by vacancies. A judge at the Galați Tribunal, who has been performing duties for both their assigned post and vacant positions since 2019, sought financial compensation for these extra hours. After a Bucharest court rejected the claim—ruling that overtime should be compensated with time off rather than money—the case was referred to the Court of Justice. The central issue is whether limiting financial compensation for extra work undermines judicial independence and the right to an effective judicial process.