Judge in eye of alleged corruption probe seeks re-election

A judge in the eye of a storm over alleged access to magistrates  is among some 97 candidates seeking a seat in the Supreme  Court

Judge Abel Zamorano, whose term expires in December, aspires to remain in the plenary of the Court of Justice.

On Friday, September 13, Zamorano presented his documents to run for one of the vacancies in the Court.

His name arose in the revelations of Panama e lawyer  Janio Lescure  in which, among other things, he presumed to have four magistrates (Zamorano would be one of them) with whom he could count to deal in alleged acts of judicial corruption reports La Prensa

On Wednesday,, September 11  Zamorano accused Lescure before the Court of Honor of the National Bar Association (CNA), for alleged ethical violations.

Zamorano bases his complaint on Lescure’s revelations, published by La Prensa on September 6.

With Zamorano, there are 97 applicants: 37 women and 60 men, according to the  Office of the Attorney General. which is spreading the updated list of candidates every day.

The period to deliver resumes closes Monday, September 16.

The process is for the selection of the people to replace Judges  Jerónimo Mejía and Harry Díaz, both of the Criminal Chamber, and Zamorano, of the Third Administrative Dispute Chamber. Three alternate magistrates will also be chosen.

The special commission that will have the responsibility of interviewing the candidates for these positions was installed Friday, in order to establish the methodology and the respective questionnaire that will be applied.

The new magistrates must be ratified by the National Assembly and would take office on January 2, 2020.