The principle of independence of justice in Moldova has been distorted during the past 20 years and some of the judges consider that independence of justice is independence before the law, Minister of Justice Oleg Efrim said in a meeting of the Chisinau Press Club. “It is important that the principle of independence of justice should include making those who do justice more responsible,” said the minister, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. According to Oleg Efrim, the judges suspected of acts of corruption must be deprived of immunity. The legislation must also clearly define the disciplinary deviations and the punishments for them. The minister said that the reform of the justice sector does not include only the reform of the courts of law and the bodies of judges, but also of the other divisions of the justice system. In cases of corruption, the public perception is mainly related to the courts of law. Oleg Efrim informed that the Supreme Council of Magistrates recently endorsed a bill drafted by the Ministry of Justice, which describes the procedure for electing the president and vice president of the Supreme Court of Justice and the heads of other courts of law. Under the bill, the contest to fill the vacancies is to be announced six months before the expiration of the term in office, not when it expires as it happens now. The bill also says who and in what conditions can compete for these posts. “Currently, a person can run for the post of court head only if they work as judges at this court. But this rule will be changed,” said Oleg Efrim.