The National Union of Romanian Bars (UNBR) says that the "repeated attacks" on the Supreme Court of Justice and Cassation is "a danger" for society, and "Justice risks being swallowed up by public commotion."
"UNBR warns that the repeated attacks on the Supreme Court of Justice and Cassation is a danger to society. Justice risks being swallowed up by public commotion. The reactions in the public space to the decisions of the Supreme Court of Justice and Cassation violate the independence of the judiciary. Legally argued criticism is legitimate. But media lynching and the call for 'people's justice' are dangerous for all of us. UNBR reaffirms that respect for the law and procedure is not a formal gesture, but a condition of freedom: without them, society falls prey to arbitrariness, and justice turns into an instrument of momentary passions. Repeated public denigration of the act of justice not only undermines an institution, but generates far-reaching and long-term effects: erosion of the presumption of innocence, encouragement of extra-legal revenge, political or economic influences that exploit the vacuum of trust, a dramatic reduction in the system's ability to enforce the law predictably, and the list goes on," UNBR said on Tuesday, in a press statement.
The lawyers pointed out that when public trust in justice breaks down, the consequences will be felt at the level of society: "justice loses its authority, citizens become vulnerable to abuses, and the law ceases to be a reliable support, turning into a terrain of arbitrariness."
"UNBR calls on all institutions of the judiciary, the media and civil society to immediately start a structured public dialogue and confidence-building mechanisms. Only that way can we prevent the scenario of a jurisprudence eroded by pressures and rebuild a system that offers certainty, protection and equity. It is the duty of all legal professions to refuse to participate in keeping up the climate of hostility and to remind the public of the true meaning of law: that of protecting, not avenging. This joint effort must take the form of a Pact for Justice - a lucid and collective commitment to defending the independence, transparency and accountability of the act of justice, beyond circumstances and momentary interests. Justice no longer needs applause or booing, but lucidity!"
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