The legislative body has launched the contest to select three candidates for the vacancies of member of the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM). Those interested can file applications by 2pm on May 5, IPN reports.

The participants in the contest need to have experience in the field of law and to have worked in jurisprudence or another related area for at least ten years. They must have no criminal records and no negative results in the professional integrity test.

The contest will consist of the following stages: submission and acceptance of files; assessment of the integrity of candidates by a special commission (pre-vetting); the contest of files and the interview. Those who will not pass the assessment of the special commission will not be admitted to the next stage of the contest.

The Supreme Council of Magistrates consists of 12 members. Six of them are chosen by Parliament from among non-judges, while the other six are elected by the General Assembly of Judges from among judges by secret vote. Last week, Parliament appointed three non-judge members of the SCM, namely: Tatiana Ciaglic, Ion Guzun and Alexandru Postica. The Council’s first meeting following the new appointments was held on April 4. The meeting was chaired by Nina Cernat, the only member who remained from the previous composition of the Council. The SCM asked the Constitutional Court to interpret particular provisions on the office of SCM member and the Council’s meetings.