Evaluation mission of the initial training process at INJ

Between July 9-11, 2024, the international consultant of the Council of Europe, Francesco Perrone, was in Chisinau on an evaluation mission to carry out an exhaustive analysis of the concept, program and methodology of the initial training of candidates for the positions of judge and prosecutor at the National Institute of Justice. The action aimed to optimize judicial training and strengthen the training capacities of INJs, in line with TAIEX 2022 recommendations.

During three days, a series of meetings were held that included extensive discussions with the team of the National Institute of Justice, with the trainers responsible for the initial training and with the leaders of the internships to explore the methodologies and challenges of the training process of future judges and prosecutors.

An important aspect of the visit was the interaction with INJ graduates who are already appointed to positions and who provided information on the applicability of the knowledge gained during their studies. For a complete evaluation and a direct understanding of the aspects related to the trainings, meetings were also held with the INJ audiences, as well as attending the training sessions, including the simulation of court processes. The CoE consultant also visited the Superior Council of Magistrates and the Superior Council of Prosecutors to exchange views on the training process delivered by the National Institute of Justice.

On the last day of the mission, Francesco Perrone and Natia Japaridze, CoE project manager, had a dialogue with the Interim Director of the National Institute of Justice, Adrian Cerbu, and INJ representatives. At the meeting, topics were addressed regarding the TAIEX Report's recommendation that the National Institute of Justice become the only way to access the profession of judge and prosecutor, the option of seconding judges and prosecutors full-time to the INJ - a practice found in European magistracy schools, ensuring fairness in the process of appointing INJ graduates, inter-institutional collaboration with the Superior Council of Magistracy and the Superior Council of Prosecutors, etc.

The evaluation mission was carried out within the joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Support for the reform of justice in the Republic of Moldova".