Judicial backlog management reforms in Moldova and Romania

Judicial authorities in Moldova and Romania are implementing reforms to manage court backlogs and optimize case processing.

In Moldova, the Supreme Court of Justice approved a 2026–2030 institutional development strategy to address a backlog that had reached over seven thousand pending cases. The plan emphasizes digital transformation through electronic files and AI-based triage systems. New regulations also prioritize cases with significant social impact or those involving vulnerable persons.

As of September 15, 2026, the Moldovan Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) has implemented a new system for regulating judicial workloads based on European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) data. This mechanism establishes maximum annual case limits per court level: 288 cases for local court judges, 192 for tribunal judges, and 119 for appeals court judges. While intended to address imbalances caused by high case volumes per capita, the measure has raised concerns regarding “potential delays in case resolutions and restricted access to justice.”

Additionally, on July 3, 2026, five judges were promoted to the Supreme Court of Justice following external evaluations and CSM approval. Four of these appointees were involved in high-profile cases, some of which had been pending for several years.

In Romania, the Superior Council of Magistracy is introducing a mechanism to manage case flow based on court capacity. Starting September 15, 2026, cases exceeding a court’s daily capacity will be placed on a ‘case flow management register’ rather than being immediately assigned to a judicial panel. The reform also establishes annual case limits for appeal and tribunal judges, with full implementation expected by September 2028.