These are just some of the results of the study “Judges’, prosecutors’ and lawyers’ perception of justice and corruption” prepared by the Legal Resources Center of Moldova (CRJM). It is based on questionnaires from 476 justice professionals. The survey was conducted from February 17 to April 8, 2025. CRJM conducts this survey every two years in order to analyze the data in dynamics.
According to the respondents, the highest percentage of corruption is found in Parliament and the government, followed by the police and the National Anti-Corruption Center.
Corruption in the judiciary itself is perceived as high among 61% of lawyers, 29% of prosecutors and 15% of judges. Only 38% of judges, 17% of prosecutors and 33% of lawyers believe that corruption has decreased in recent years. Among the factors contributing to its increase are low salaries (94% of prosecutors, 78% of judges), lack of transparency (73% of lawyers), shortcomings in selection/promotion (83% of lawyers) and lack of sanctions against corrupt individuals (81% of lawyers). Only 6% of judges and 7% of prosecutors believe that they receive a decent salary.
According to the CRJM survey, judges report a positive dynamic in their relationship with the Superior Council of Magistracy. Their perception of its transparency has increased from 61% in 2020 to 83% in 2025. At the same time, prosecutors’ perception of the work of the Superior Council of Prosecutors decreased from 77% in 2020 to 66% in 2025.
Another aspect of the study concerns the increased willingness of judges and prosecutors to undergo external evaluation. In 2025, 81% of judges and 70% of attorneys said they would agree to undergo an external evaluation procedure, compared to 64% and 62% in 2023.
On the other hand, attorneys’ perceptions of the Bar Association’s performance have declined compared to 2023. It relates most to the fairness of Ethics Commission decisions. In 2025, only 54% of attorneys believe its decisions are fair, compared to 82% in 2023.
