OFF THE CUFF: Complaints against Chief Justice stalled

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Credentials  Committee lumbering  on at a speed reflecting Panama’s justice  system, postponed on Wednesday, Feb. 3, discussion of   multiple  complaints against the president of Panama’s  Supreme Court,  Jorge Ayu Prado.

The discussion has been bogged down by infighting between members of the committee, over the distribution of files. Deputy Zulay Rodríguez, never slow to criticize colleagues and anyone who crosses her path, has had five files since April  and,  after some acrimonious exchanges with committee chairman  Jorge Ivan Arrocha had been given a Jan. 30 deadline to produce her report. She failed to deliver.

By consensus, the committee agreed that at the next session Rodríguez will have to deliver.  “She [Rodriguez] will have to explain why she has delayed     and  convince members of the commission to get their support”, said Arrocha.

Minutes earlier, the Credentials Committee archived two complaints lodged against two judges of the Supreme Court.

Thee two appeals against judges Hernán De Leon and Oyden Ortega. were  related to land disputes.

Arrocha said the committee  took the decision to close the cases after determining that “the Commission cannot pronounce on rulings of the rooms or the Court … what is attacked with these allegations are decisions of the judges “and judgments are final, and binding”.