Propose to the CNM to validate recent evaluations to expedite the selection of SCJ judges

Santo Domingo.- Given the imminent opening of a new evaluation process for candidates to the Supreme Court of Justice, Dr. Julio Cury proposed considering the relevance of introducing a modification to the internal regulations of the National Council of the Magistracy to rationalize and optimize said procedure. Recognizing that the skills and profile of an applicant do not vary substantially within a few months, he proposed that applicants who have been evaluated by the CNM in a period equal to or less than 9 months, and who are not elected in said process, do not have to undergo the rigor of the face-to-face evaluation again for new vacancies. “A significant number of judges and lawyers were evaluated just weeks ago, without that leading to their appointment. The CNM could refer to the minutes and videos of the recent evaluation, integrating them into the upcoming process, as forcing them to repeat it in such a short time would lack objective justification,” said Cury.

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He said that reevaluating someone at 3, 6, or 9 months does not provide new relevant information, and entails an unnecessary use of institutional time and resources, which is why the adoption of the suggested measure would allow the CNM, in the jurist’s opinion, to concentrate its efforts on the evaluation of profiles that were not evaluated and that will aspire in the next call.

“Professional skills, moral solvency, and technical profile do not change overnight. What I propose would reinforce the efficiency, reasonableness, and coherence of the evaluation system, without in any way affecting the discretionary power of the constitutional body to decide, in each case, on the final suitability of the applicants,” he said.

He argued that the modification he proposes would avoid unnecessary burdens for both the CNM and the professionals who legitimately aspire to serve from the highest judicial court.

“This is a proposal aimed at strengthening institutionalism, optimizing the management of public time, avoiding duplicating evaluations in short periods, which conveys the wrong message. Which one? That the previous effort was insufficient”.