The shortlist for the new post of ‘Public Defender’ or Ombudsman and two auxiliaries, has been announced. It consists of 24 prominent lawyers including former Sports Minister Luis Schecker Ort?z, Iraima Capriles, wife of Labor Minister Milton Ray Guevara, and Do?a Zoila Mart?nez who served as Dominican ambassador to Buenos Aires and District Attorney. Roxanna Reyes, who has been in the news this week for being fired and later reinstated in her post as Assistant District Attorney, has been proposed for one of the Ombudsman’s auxiliary posts of Protector of Women and Children. The other auxiliary posts are for Human Rights, Environment and Consumer Protection. Several other candidates, including prominent human right activists like Virgilio Alm?nzar, were left off the list by the selection committee. The Ombudsman, who has to be neutral of any party affiliation, will serve a six year term and his/her task will be to protect the public from abuses of power.