Court rejects recusal move by deputy’s lawyer

A challenge presented by the PRD deputy Zulay Rodríguez, as a lawyer for her colleague Jairo Salazar, against magistrate Ángela Russo has been rejected  by a plenary session of the Supreme Court

The case is related to the complaint filed by the director of the National Police, Jorge Miranda, against  Deputy Salazar, after an incident in November 2019 in the Altos de Los Lagos sector, Colón, with several police agents. Salazar, seen as a loose cannon by many Assembly watchers is facing numerous charges.

The complaint, along with another also filed by the Police, was admitted by the Court, and Judge Russo was appointed as a prosecutor.

José Ayú s acts as Judge of Guarantees.

The challenge presented by Rodríguez, who appears as Salazar’s substitute lawyer, was based on the fact that she raised serious questions about Russo’s appointment as a magistrate of the Supreme Court in December 2015. In the Assembly, Rodríguez voted against ratification.

The Court is still processing two other complaints against Salazar, both presented by the PRD deputy, Kayra Harding , who accuses him of alleged gender violence. These complaints are in the office of Judge Olmedo Arrocha.

Harding alleged that at a bench meeting, Salazar threw a bottle of water at her that hit her in the face and chest.

Harding summoned 13 deputies from the PRD and the Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (Molirena), who were witnesses to the events, which occurred in an Assembly hall.