Romania judiciary: Judge returns to office and legal inquiry dismissed

In Romania, two separate developments involving the judiciary have emerged. Ionela Tudor, a former vice-president of the Bucharest Court of Appeal who retired in February at age 51, is preparing to return to the magistracy. After a brief period running a private law firm in Slobozia, she intends to work at the Ilfov Tribunal. Under current legislation, she can combine her judicial salary with 15% of her service pension, resulting in an estimated monthly income of 24,500 lei, which is approximately 5,500 lei less than her full retirement pension.

Separately, Sorina Marinaș, a judge at the Craiova Court of Appeal, faced a swift response from the High Court regarding a legal inquiry she submitted. Marinaș had questioned whether Romanian national regulations—specifically those regarding the investigation of magistrates by prosecutors appointed by the Prosecutor General—conflict with European Union treaties. She also questioned if a judge could face disciplinary action for exercising the obligation to refer matters to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJUE). The High Court responded within 72 hours by dismissing her case file.