Can a *reviewer* ask for the status of the paper that is reviewing? So, I was asked to referee a paper for a reputed TCS journal which I did. I wrote my report within 3 months from invitation but I was waiting almost 6 more months till I get Editor's notification for the decision (sent to authors but also to myself as a referee).

The authors of that paper prepared a major revision and submitted within 3 weeks this new version, and I was asked by the editor to re-evaluate this newer version. I did, again within 3 months.

Now, more than 6 months have passed since I uploaded my report and still no news from the editor. When I login as a reviewer into the system I see: Status under review and Status Date to be the date I uploaded my recommendation.  From this I conclude that no new referee was asked and simply the 2nd referee is, again, very late with her/his report (6+3 = 9 months at least since we were asked to re-evaluate the new version).

Now, this is a very interesting, difficult and somewhat controversial, paper and I would realy like the authors to see and answer my comments/suggestions/questions as soon as possible . The more time passes, the more I forget about the paper and I would have to read it again and again in a possible 3rd round.


  Question: Does it make sense me, as a reviewer, to contact the editor about the status of the paper stating my reasons about that? What would be, most likely, the reaction of the editor? Did this ever happened? Or simply to stay silent since this is not my paper?


Note that I do not plan to have time after September, due to many commitements, to dedicate myself on re-evaluating such a difficult paper so it is a matter of time (besides the obvious interest) for me and this is an issue that would affect my plan next semester when the other referee decides to send the report to go into the 3rd round.
In my opinion, it is ok to ask politely about anything to the editors, as long as you can (and do) explain sensibly why you ask, and as long as you don't demand it. Such requests shall be at worst considered odd or unusual.

In this case, I think it is in the best interest of everyone involved for you to let know the editor about your timing issue (and the sooner the better). The most probable outcome is that the editor will still wait for the second reviewer, because otherwise the authors could think answering your demands should be enough to get their paper accepted, and they could get pissed off if other demands arrive later from the second referee. Even if there is no such misunderstanding, they could prefer to dive in their paper to correct it once rather than twice. 

However, letting the editor know might prompt her or him to push a bit the second reviewer, possibly speeding up the process a bit. He or she might also decide to go with your sole report. In any case, once the editor have all relevant info on her or his hand, he or she can choose the most appropriate course of action.