Legal and civic society groups have formed a Coalition for Independent Justice to lobby against politics being used in the choice of three judges for the Supreme Court. President of the PRD party, Hatuey de Camps, has said that the choice of the new judges was negotiated with former President Joaquin Balaguer, leader of the PRSC. A judicial reform in 1997 sought to rid the courts of political influences. Now the group fears political decisions will prevail in the choices and is campaigning for a process that is "transparent and has the full participation of all society, to ensure that the judges chosen are the best men and women of our country, without political interests intervening." The coalition says that every citizen and institution has the right to present and promote the candidates of their preference. Members of the coalition are the Foundation for Institutionalism and Justice (FINJUS), The Dominican Association of Business Lawyers (Adae), the National Association of Young Businessmen (ANJE), Citizens Participation, the American Association of Jurists (AAJ), the Association of Women Entrepreneurs (ADME), Alfalit Dominicano, Inc., the Center for Social Studies, Father Juan Montalvo, S. J. and the Dominican Center for Counsel and Legal Investigations (CEDAIL).
