Judy Dempsey

After the communist takeovers across Eastern and Central Europe in 1945, the judiciary became the political and ideological instruments of the ruling communist parties. Then came 1989 and the hopes of establishing an independent court system. Yet over the past few years, judges have been replaced in Poland, the courts have been undermined in Hungary and corruption continues to prevent Romania from establishing a consistent rule of law. What has gone wrong, and how can it be rectified?