Longtime political analyst at the Listin Diario Orlando Gil says that Dominicans will have to await Chief Justice Jorge Subero Isa’s return from Costa Rica to get his explanation of the reasons for his threat to resign. Meanwhile, Gil mentions that among those who could replace Subero are Supreme Court judge Eglis Margarita Esmurdoc Castellanos, the wife of influential PPH activist Hernani Salazar (Salazar is supervisor of government constructions); and Supreme Court judge Rafael Luciano Pichardo, who is known to be a strong supporter of former President Salvador Jorge Blanco, who in turn is a strong supporter of President Mejia’s re-election. Luciano Pichardo is the Supreme Court’s second-in-command. Gil comments that the possibility of replacing judges of retiring age now is a reality and he recalls that previously politics usually prevailed when replacing retiring judges. “If the first time politics prevailed, there is no reason to expect that the second substitution would be any different,” he writes, speculating that this time the council could act unilaterally to appoint people affiliated to the powers that be. “Thus, the concerns that we are coming up to an assault on the Supreme Court of Justice are valid. While the composition of this entity is not ideal, we have to see it as a token of institutionalism at the foot of powers that seek to expand their scope, or that are in the mood to inadequately use its force,” he reflects. To contact the writer, email him at orlandogil@codetel.net.do