Lia Savonea
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Lia Savonea | |
|---|---|
| 36th President of the High Court of Cassation and Justice | |
| Assumed office 23 Jun 2025 | |
| Appointed by | Nicusor Dan |
| Preceded by | Corina Corbu |
| Member of Superior Council of the Magistracy | |
| In office 2017–2023 | |
| President of Superior Council of the Magistracy | |
| In office 2019–2019 | |
| President of Bucharest Court of Appeals | |
| In office 2013–2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lia Fier Știop[1] July 26, 1969 |
| Spouse | Mihai Savonea |
| Alma mater | University of Bucharest |
| Occupation | Judge, Magistrate |
Lia Savonea (née Fier Știop) is a Romanian judge and jurist who serves as president of the High Court of Cassation and Justice,[2] as well as a member of the Superior Council of Magistracy (Consiliul Superior al Magistraturii, CSM). Savonea is a prominent figure in Romania's judicial system and has been the subject of significant public debate and controversy regarding judicial independence and governance.
Controversies
In April 2026, an investigation by "Cum a scăpat Lia Savonea un interlop de închisoare". RISE Project. 23 April 2026. in collaboration with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) reported on a 2013 case involving Lia Savonea, President of the High Court of Cassation and Justice of Romania.
According to the investigation, Savonea presided over an appellate panel that overturned the conviction of Sorin Raiciu, who had previously been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for a 2008 robbery. The report stated that, at the time of the trial and appeal, Savonea and her husband co-owned real estate with a relative of the defendant, with the co-ownership lasting from 2006 to 2018.
The investigation also reported alleged irregularities in court documentation, noting that two differing versions of the acquittal decision existed in official records. Former magistrates cited in the report, including Cristi Danileț, stated that such discrepancies were highly unusual and raised questions regarding judicial procedure.
Raiciu was later charged in a separate case in 2020 involving attempted murder, in which he and several associates were accused of carrying out a violent attack.
Savonea denied the allegations, stating that she had acted in accordance with the law and rejecting any suggestion of conflict of interest. Romania’s Superior Council of Magistracy defended her, describing public criticism as an attack on judicial independence.
The investigation contributed to public debate regarding the judiciary in Romania. Savonea’s appointment as head of the High Court in 2025 had previously prompted protests, with critics expressing concerns about corruption and accountability within the judicial system.