ARGENTINA: Argentine court throws out key part of judicial reform law

Record ID: 447450

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Argentine court throws out key part of judicial reform law
  • Date: 19th June 2013
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS OUTSIDE SUPREME COURT SESSION
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Legal System,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABUQQK4FDZKCS1L4WKETF3XBOO
  • Story Text: Argentina's top court throws out a key part of President Cristina Fernandez's ambitious judicial reform that would have opened up the country's court system to popular vote.

    Argentina's Supreme Court on Tuesday (June 18) struck down a key part of a judicial reform law championed by President Cristina Fernandez that would have mandated the election of members of the board that chooses federal judges.
    The reform - which Fernandez said was needed to "democratise the judiciary" - passed Congress last month and has been a lightning rod for criticism of the president as talk swirls of a possible bid by her supporters to seek a constitutional change to allow her to seek a third term.
    Six of the Supreme Court's seven judges agreed to strike the provision on grounds that it was unconstitutional.
    The country's opposition have long condemned the reforms, arguing it would leave judges vulnerable to political influence.
    Fernandez was re-elected in 2011 on promises of increasing the role of government in Latin America's third biggest economy.
    The Argentine Justice Minister Julio Alak said he would respect the court's decision.
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