Romanian justice is somewhat different

Romania, as we know all too well, is in the EU and so its government is also our government. Romania is also in the Council of Europe so its judges who have been trained in a somewhat different system from ours are also on the European Court of Human Rights, whose decisions would be adhered to, even if the Human Rights Act is repealed.

The present Romanian member of the ECHR, Corneliu Barsan, has an interesting understanding of his and his wife's position; interesting from our point of view but probably perfectly sensible from his.

Romania's judge at the European Court of Human Rights on Friday (14 October) claimed diplomatic immunity for his wife, a judge under investigation for allegedly receiving jewellery, holiday tickets and expensive restaurant meals for favourable verdicts in the country's highest appeals court.

ECHR judge Corneliu Barsan said prosecutors who searched his home and confiscated his wife's computer and documents violated the Vienna Convention, which covers both him and his spouse, Gabriela.

But legal advice from the country's top magistrate council said the search was legal as immunity is not granted to judges for their own benefit or to hamper the course of justice. A final vote on the legality of the move will be taken by the magistrates' council on Tuesday.

I wonder if he can even understand what all the fuss is about.