Hear
The Network of Entities for Independent Justice of Argentina (Rejia) complained to the president Javier Milei and the vice president, Victoria Villarruelthat withdraw from the Senate the document that nominates the federal judge for the Supreme Court Ariel Lijoarguing a series of no less breaches and irregularities to the procedure and requirements posed by decree 222/03, which regulates the process to nominate a member of the highest court.
Through a document signed by the dozen civil, academic and professional entities that make up the network, Rejia states that “the administrative process carried out in the Ministry of Justice suffers from defects and non-compliance that affect it as a valid legal act”after which it lists and details eight irregularities during the challenge process by the minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona and another four in the process established by the decree.
The first eight points cover from the “partiality” of Cúneo Libarona even the failure of the judge himself to comply with the requirements of the process. Thus, Rejia begins by pointing out that the minister should have abstained from the application process since was Lijo’s lawyer in criminal cases, such as the one initiated against him by Elisa Carrió for illicit association, and who also publicly presented his favorable opinion to the judge.
Regarding Lijo’s duties, Rejia warns that the sworn statement that the judge had to present “has not been made known,” nor has the sworn statement on companies, nor the assets and debts of the candidate and his family group, their income, expenses and investments, in addition to their luxury goods.
On the other hand, the entity points out that The judge failed to comply with the obligation to report conflicts of interest “that may affect the impartiality of his judgment,” and that it is also unknown what he said in response to “reported and unclarified irregular situations,” such as the fact of using a luxury vehicle that was not in his name or his participation in the you will do The Generationlocated in the Dolores District.
The shadow of the judge’s brother, Alfredo Lijoowner of that farm and who openly presents himself as “judicial operator”flies over the entire presentation sent to Milei and Villarruel.
In its second chapter, Rejia’s presentation points to the irregularities regarding the specific procedure established by decree 222/03. Not only is it not known how Lijo defended himself from the 328 challenges filed against himbut to the lightness with which the Government considered that the magistrate had overcome those observations.
“Despite their number, foundation and seriousness, none of them were even analyzed or evaluated before sending the proposal to the Senate”warns the entity, which remembers the “confusing” formula that the libertarian government chose to discredit these challengesnoting that they were not about “the qualities or conditions of Dr. Lijo in particular,” but about decree 222/03 and the composition of the Court regarding gender balance.
“It is clear that this wording does not respond to any of the objections that question the qualities and capabilities of Dr. Ariel Oscar Lijo, which is even more serious because, as we previously highlighted, they contain objections based on numerous proven antecedents and on the invocation of national and international ethical norms and principles that govern the appointment and conduct of judges,” denounced Rejia.
They also pointed out that Cúneo Libarona did not issue a statement regarding the lack of statistics, the number of prescriptions, nullities, delays in the processes carried out by Lijo, when an analysis carried out on the only existing public records (carried out by Inecip), concluded in point out the magistrate as the “most ineffective” by Comodoro Py and the one that delays the most sensitive causes for power. Lijo is singled out precisely for “stepping on” the files in his charge, precisely, as a political tool against the governments in power.
Last but not least, Rejia does not let it pass that The Government hid the alleged defense that Lijo would have made in the face of challenges. In fact, the Casa Rosada stated, without giving any details, that Lijo “solidly” clarified all warnings about his “lack of moral and intellectual aptitudes, skills and/or experience”. These challenges pointed to the suspicions and complaints that the judge accumulated over the years about his assets and the handling of cases, but also to the fact that His professional and academic training never exceeded criminal law nor did it reach constitutional law.a matter specific to the Court.
“The applicable standard has been breached in clearly essential aspects, which invalidates the procedure.” and makes it necessary to regularize it, complying with each of the indicated omissions and giving citizens the possibility of presenting themselves to formulate their support or challenge to Dr. Lijo’s proposal, but with full knowledge of the omitted collections, for example, your financial situation as well as his defenses regarding the very serious criticisms that have been made against him,” concludes Rejia’s presentation.
The document addressed to Milei and Villarruel bears the signatures of the City Bar Association, Sera Justicia, Republican Joint Action, Usina de Justicia, Entre Ríos sin Corrupción, Republican Professors, Fores, Poder Ciudadano and the jurists and academics Alejandro Fargosi, Daniel Sabsay, Pablo Pirovano, Gerardo Enrique Vega, Alberto Fidel Cohan, Ezequiel Nino, Alejandros Drucaroff and Marcelo de Jesús.
THE NATION
