The High Court of Cassation and Justice rules today, after six postponements, on the appeal concerning magistrates’ outstanding salary rights

The High Court of Cassation and Justice is expected to deliver its decision on Thursday in the appeal filed by the Government and the Ministry of Finance against the ruling of the Bucharest Court of Appeal concerning the payment of judges’ outstanding salary entitlements. The decision comes after six postponements and one day after the Constitutional Court rejected as inadmissible the referral by interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan regarding an alleged constitutional conflict between the Government and the supreme court.

On May 5, the Bucharest Court of Appeal ruled that the Government and the Ministry of Finance must provide the full funds necessary for payments due in 2026, including through a budget revision. According to Ilie Bolojan, the amount stands at 4.8 billion lei. The ruling provided for a 10-day enforcement deadline from the date it became final and penalties of 1% for each day of delay, as well as a daily fine amounting to 20% of the gross minimum wage.

The Government argued that the court had usurped the powers of the executive and legislative branches in setting budgetary priorities. However, the Constitutional Court found that the referral was, in reality, aimed at challenging a court ruling, which is possible only through the legal avenues of appeal. The High Court of Cassation and Justice’s appeal may uphold or amend the Court of Appeal’s decision.