Judicial reforms going nowhere – Judge

JUDICIAL REFORMS proposed last year, will not be implemented because there is no money in the 2016 budget to fund them says Supreme Court Judge Harry Díaz who also called for  a tighter watch of judges’ finances to avoid corruption

This view contradicts that  of  Finance Minister  Dulcidio de la Guardia who said  that $10 million had been included in the budget for the programs, reports La Prensa.

“The judicial reforms cannot be implemented without funding,” he said.

Diaz made the allegation in an open letter. He is currently in a dispute with the leadership of the Supreme Court, specifically José Ayú Prado, Hernan De León and Luis Ramón Fábrega.

One of the proposed reforms is the creation of a judicial career law. On that note, Diaz said that the change is needed so that judges are chosen through a “scientific” method rather than being appointed by the president and ratified by the National Assembly.

The reforms would also grant more financial autonomy to the judiciary.

Diaz has claimed that former President Ricardo Martinelli interfered with the election of the Supreme Court’s board of directors while in office. Those allegations prompted the dispute between him and the current board. Diaz said that the positions on the board should be rotated on the basis of seniority.

He also called for a greater level of scrutiny of the finances of judges to prevent corruption.

“Annual property declarations do not have much impact because those who obtained funds illegally won’t declare them,” he said.