The Partido Reformista Social Cristiano senators, majority in the Senate, passed a bill that establishes an age limit of 75 years for the working judges and the Judges Career Bill. It grants a four year grace period to the present Supreme Court judges. The President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Dr. Jorge Subero Isa complained to El Siglo newspaper that in doing so the senators were responding to political and economic interests. He said those sectors are bothered by the independence of criteria shown by the Supreme Court. Dr. Subero rejected the establishment of an age limit for the judges of the Supreme Court. He said that the senators did not vote so with the well-being of the institution in mind, rather their intention was to upset the present Supreme Court of Judges. Three of the 11 judges of the Supreme Court are 75 years old or will be 75 in 1999. Dr. Subero said even if the bill is passed by the Chamber of Deputies and promulgated by the President, it will not affect the restructuring that is taking place in the Judicial Branch of the government, "with bill or without bill." He said he expects the members of the Chamber of Deputies or the President to show more sense and reject the bill as approved by the Senate. Members of the Acuerdo de Santo Domingo said they were caught unaware and voted for the bill. They said they do not favor a bill that does not allow for at least a five year grace period for the Supreme Court judges that were chosen last year to conform the present Supreme Court of Judges. Hoy newspaper reported that the bill was passed by 15 senators present, of 30 total, including three members of the Acuerdo de Santo Domingo who were confused when President of the Senate Amable Aristy Castro called the vote. According to a report from the Justice Committee of the Senate regarding the Bill for the Judges Career, the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice were appointed for a period of four years by the Consejo Nacional de la Magistratura. Nevertheless, they can be re-elected indefinitely. It sets an age limit of 75 years for the obligatory retirement of the judges. Furthermore, the Consejo Nacional de la Magistratura will designate every four years the president, first and second substitutes and the members of the three
