Adriano Miguel Tejada speculates today in Diario Libre that the surprising appointment of two new members to the National Council of Magistrates, the body responsible for in turn appointing judges to the Supreme Court, is likely to be politically motivated. He speculates that the move is suspect by some who believe the plan could be to appoint a new Supreme Court of Justice following the resignation of three aging judges and any other judge not in favor. “The motives behind this step could be to guarantee impunity for the present members of government who could be accused of indelicate acts, be it by the authorities of a new government or by members of the community awaiting the chance to get back at the present government authorities.”
Meanwhile, Jose Alfredo Rizek, the executive director of the Foundation for Institutionalism and Justice (FINJUS), viewed the decision to recompose the National Council of Magistrates at this time as a “covert threat,” as reported in El Caribe. FINJUS and the civic movement Participacion Ciudadana believe that any change to the Supreme Court of Justice should be kept on hold until after 16 August, when the new government is instated.
Adding to the controversy at the Supreme Court is the belief by some that judges should retire at the age of 75 as stipulated by law, while some of the judges say this measure does not apply to them, only to judges that succeed them. These judges assert that they cannot be removed from their posts. Rizek expressed his hope that the Supreme Court judges who are members of the National Council of Magistrates will only appoint candidates who have already made their careers as judges.