Adrienn Laczo was formerly a judge in Hungary. She decided to resign from her position in response to the government’s intervention in the legal system. Now, she advocates for an impartial judicial framework as a practicing attorney.

Attorney Adrienn Laczo’s workspace in Budapest’s District XII features an understated yet sophisticated decor. Dark gray walls showcase several artworks. A glass award from the organization Mensa HungarIQa, recognizing high intellectual abilities, sits proudly on her desk.

Despite her short tenure as a lawyer, Laczo is now among the most prominent judges in Hungary.

Laczo gained unexpected attention towards the end of last November when she shared on Facebook that after serving as a judge for 24 years, she was forced to step down from her position.

“In Hungary, the autonomy of the judicial system has been eliminated,” she stated to SANGGRALOKA.

Judges in unprecedented protest

Though it is widely known in Hungary that the nation’s judicial system has been in turmoil for quite a while, very few specific details ever come to light among the general populace.

It is exceedingly rare for someone within the system to speak so candidly as Adrienn Laczo is doing at present.

However, she is definitely not alone; at the end of February, hundreds of judges, along with their supporters and family members, held a demonstration outside the Justice Ministry located on Kossuth Square in Budapest.

This had never happened before in Hungary and — with the significant exception of Poland some years back — was an extremely uncommon event across Europe as a whole.

Hungarian judges demonstrated in the streets to uphold judicial independence. Additionally, they demanded improved salaries since professionals working within Hungary’s legal system receive some of the lowest compensation for their roles across Europe.

Pressure on judges to avoid showing their hand

In general, it requires bravery to publicly demonstrate against the government led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban nowadays. Doing so could adversely affect one’s employment opportunities and professional advancement.

When it came to Hungary’s judges, the danger was particularly severe.

As the protest approached, renowned pro-government author and Orbán supporter Zsolt Bayer called for the compilation of a roster containing the names of everyone participating in the demonstration.

This did not discourage Adrienn Laczo; she was part of the protesters in Budapest.

Laczo indicates that the significant number of judges who participated in the protests, even with the risk of having their names recorded as dissenters, highlights the extent of dissatisfaction among Hungary’s 2,600 jurists.

“I’ve encountered numerous individuals who share my sentiments, yet they strive to behave as though they are rendering judgments in isolation,” she stated. “Their career is important to them, and they enjoy what they do, hence they attempt to endure.”

Long inner battle

She mentions that she also endured an internal struggle for numerous years prior to coming forward.

She informed SANGGRALOKA that she initially sensed an issue arising in 2012 when Orban’s administration implemented mandatory retirements for judges. Consequently, this policy led to the involuntary retirement of numerous seasoned jurists, aged from 62 to 70 years old, who held prominent roles within the judicial system.

She mentioned that this led to uncertainty within the organization, with younger judges benefiting from being assigned the open positions.

Despite this, Orbán’s administration overturned the choice in 2013 owing to
pressure from EU institutions
Many judges who were compelled to retire did not regain their former positions. For numerous individuals, it was already too late.

“Put simply, the government accomplished its goal,” stated Laczo.

‘Shortage of skill and practice’

According to the ex-judge, the stress on the judicial system has escalated since those times, particularly during the last five to six years.

She clarified how this pressure manifests: “It’s not like someone directly contacts a judge handling a sensitive political case and instructs them on the desired verdict,” she stated. “Instead, it often involves certain judges advancing through the ranks at a quicker pace, leaving their peers behind. Judges whose rulings align with those in power tend to advance more swiftly.”

Laczo views the Curia, Hungary’s highest judicial body, as a key instance of this issue. According to her, numerous judges serving on the Supreme Court do not possess the necessary skills and background required for their positions.

For instance, Laczo points out that the president of the Curia was chosen without prior experience as a judge, indicating a politically motivated selection. According to her, this influence is evident in how he conducts himself professionally.

Landmark media case

A media report from 2024 revealed how Orbán and his administration utilize a subservient judicial framework, with key emphasis on entities such as the Curia.

The CEO of the Austrian grocery store chain Spar spoke to the specialized magazine.

Lebensmittel Zeitung

Viktor Orbán proposed to him that he should allocate part of the shares in Spar’s Hungarian subsidiary to a family member. Numerous Hungarian media outlets covered the story from the German newspaper.

Orbán countered by initiating legal action against every Hungarian media outlet that had covered the story. However, he was unsuccessful in the initial ruling of the case.

Nonetheless, two newspapers subsequently lost their appeal at the Curia. The justification provided was that they ought to have verified the accuracy of the statements made by Spar’s CEO.

Adrienn Laczo suggests that through this decision, the Curia has set a precedent for handling future related media cases and potentially imposed limitations on the activities of Hungarian journalists. This is due to legislation enacted in 2020 mandating that lower courts provide specific justifications when they depart from the judgments made by the Curia.

Global backing for the demonstrating judges

It remains unclear whether the judges’ public demonstration — the first of its type in Hungary — will alter the circumstances within the judicial system.

Nevertheless, substantial global backing exists for the protests. To illustrate, President Duro Sessa of the International Association of Judges addressed participants during the demonstration held towards the end of February. Additionally, in regard to issues within Hungary’s judicial system, the European Union has refrained from releasing financial assistance to Hungary for an extended period.

According to Adrienn Laczo, the state of affairs in Hungary is clear-cut: “Concerning the judicial system in Hungary, the rule of law no longer prevails as the organizational autonomy of the judiciary has been eliminated,” she states. “Furthermore, the personal independence of judges is significantly jeopardized. This implies that in the absence of an impartial judiciary, Hungarian citizens lack essential protection.”

Although Laczo takes pleasure in being a lawyer and isn’t worried about any slanderous attacks directed at herself or her family, she acknowledges that practicing law is merely an alternative to her original aspirations.

“I dreamed of being a judge, and I wanted to work in this role until I retired. However, it just wasn’t feasible anymore,” she stated.

The article was initially published in German.

Author: Laura Szaplonczai (located in Budapest)