The Supreme Council of Magistrates accepted seven candidates for the post of Constitutional Court judge. The tenure of four judges of the Court expires in February and the Council is obliged to name two judges. Another two judges will be appointed by Parliament, Info-Prim Neo reports. The first stage of the contest to fill the post of Constitutional Court judge was launched on January 10. Vasile Gutu, press officer of the Supreme Council of Magistrates, said that after the applications were accepted, the names and CVs of the candidates were published on the Council’s website. “All those who want can see who the candidates are and state their opinions, can criticize or praise them,” he stated. In the second stage of the contest, the Council will examine every candidate apart. In February 2007, the Supreme Council of Magistrates elected Victor Puscas and Valeria Sterbet as Constitutional Court judges. Victor Puscas can no longer apply for the post as he had served as constitutional judge for two terms. Valeria Sterbet held office only once and she thus applied again for the post. Besides Valeria Sterbet, the Council also accepted the applications of Veaceslav Zaporojan, who works as assistant judge at the Constitutional Court, Nicolae Rosca, chairman of the Council’s Disciplinary Board, lawyer Dumitru Brasoveanu, international judge at the Constitutional Court from Bosnia and Herzegovina Tudor Pantiru, Habilitate Doctor of Law and Council member Igor Dolea, and university lecturer Mihai Corj. Constitutional judges Dumitru Pulbere and Elena Safaleru also completed their duties. They were named to post by Parliament and will be replaced by it. Constitutional Court secretary general Rodica Secrieru, has told Info-Prim Neo that Parliament decides by itself how to choose the two judges. If it announces a public contest, the candidates are selected by the legal commission for appointments and immunities. The Constitutional Court consists of six judges named for a six-year term. The Parliament, the Government, and the Supreme Council of Magistrates appoint by two judges each. In order to become Constitutional Court judge, the candidates must have legal education, be professionally competent and have a length of service of at least 15 years in the legal system, education or in scientific activity, be citizens of Moldova with the domicile in the country, and be younger than 70.