ECtHR: Bădescu and Others v. Romania (Application No. 22198/18, 15 April 2025): Criminal Liability of Judges for Interpretation of Laws in the Exercise of Judicial Functions
ECtHR: Bădescu and Others v. Romania (Application No. 22198/18, 15 April 2025): Criminal Liability of Judges for Interpretation of Laws in the Exercise of Judicial Functions

Summary/Abstract: The criminal liability of judges is significantly limited by judicial independence, of which the criminal immunity of judges constitutes one of its facets. The judicial reform introduced by the 2020 amendment to the Constitution of the Slovak Republic created a framework for criminal prosecution of judges for so-called “bending of the law”. Given the lack of practical experience with its application, it is important to examine the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in Bădescu and Others v. Romania. In this case, an analysis was made of what constitutes judicial decision-making and what constitutes preparation for it. Preparation for the issuance of a judicial decision enjoys a lower level of criminal immunity than the actual judicial decision-making itself.

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