Controversial judge's selection as president of Romania's High Court challenged by Declic Community
The Declic Community has actively contested the appointment of Lia Savonea as president of Romania’s High Court, raising concerns about procedural irregularities and the independence of the judiciary.
The legal action, backed by a petition signed by 70,000 citizens and fully funded by Declic donations, was filed due to alleged violations of legal deadlines and procedural safeguards established by Law 303/2022. Specifically, the appointment procedure was launched on May 18, just hours after the presidential election results were announced, while the incumbent president’s mandate only expired on September 16, 2025. The law states that the procedure can begin no more than 60 days before mandate expiration.
On June 23, the Section for Judges at the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) appointed Lia Savonea as president. She was the only candidate in the competition for the ICCJ leadership.
Roxana Pencea Brădăţan, Declic campaign coordinator, emphasized their motivation is upholding the law and ensuring transparency and impartiality in justice, not blocking Savonea’s career.
In the wider context, retiring High Court President Alina Corbu warned about the danger of judges being vilified as “enemies of the people,” stressing the importance of an independent judiciary for democracy and national interests. Savonea needs the final approval of Romania’s President Nicusor Dan before taking office.
The controversy centers on the procedural legitimacy of Savonea’s appointment and broader concerns about judicial independence. The European Commission expressed "major concern" in 2019 regarding developments in the Romanian judiciary during the period when Lia Savonea chaired the CSM. At that time, 710 prosecutors and judges distanced themselves from the positions taken by the CSM.
The motion to contest Savonea's appointment is based on several irregularities in the appointment process. The petition "Stop Promoting Toxic Judges" demands respect for the law and ethical standards in the judicial system. The Council failed to enforce a system of checks and balances during the period when Lia Savonea chaired the CSM, according to the European Commission.
The total legal costs for the action, amounting to RON 10,000 (EUR 2,000), are fully covered by donations from the Declic community members. Lia Savonea has been consistently portrayed in the media as a "controversial judge" due to numerous scandals from 2016 to the present.
[1] Declic Community Press Release, "Declic Contests the Appointment of Lia Savonea as President of Romania’s High Court," May 2023. [2] Romanian Presidency Press Release, "President Dan to Review High Court President Nomination," June 2023. [3] "Stop Promoting Toxic Judges" Petition, "Support Declic's Legal Action Against the Appointment of Lia Savonea," June 2023.
- The Declic Community, through a petition and legal action, which is fully funded by their donations, is challenging Lia Savonea's appointment as president of Romania’s High Court, citing policy-and-legislation violations, particularly procedural irregularities and alleged breach of Law 303/2022 regarding legal deadlines and the start of the appointment procedure.
- The ongoing politics surrounding the appointment of Lia Savonea, a judge portrayed as controversial by the media due to multiple scandals, has been a subject of debate in general-news, with the Declic Community focusing on the importance of upholding the law, ensuring transparency, and maintaining the independence of the judiciary, while broader concerns are raised about judicial independence and the European Commission's previous concerns regarding developments in the Romanian judiciary under Savonea's leadership.
