www.stiripesurse.ro/dincolo-de-propaganda-judecato

The disciplinary sanctioning of two judges from the Pitești Court of Appeal has sparked a debate about judicial independence and the limits of judges' authority. Prosecutor Claudiu Sandu criticized the sanctions, labeling them as a form of 'dictatorship' in the judiciary, suggesting the judges were punished for their decision against former minister Daniel Chițoiu. However, the sanctions were based on the judges' inappropriate use of the defendant's lawyers' behavior as a reason for increasing the sentence. The CSM emphasized that a judge cannot penalize a defendant for their lawyer's actions, highlighting the importance of personal accountability in criminal law. The judges' actions were deemed a serious violation of legal principles, not merely a misinterpretation of the law. The case raises significant questions about the balance between judicial discretion and the rights of defendants.