The magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice elected their new president on Wednesday. During a long day, the judges opted for Fernando Cruz, currently a magistrate of the Constitutional Chamber.
The veteran official was elected with 13 votes in favor. Orlando Aguirre received 9 votes.
At the beginning of the morning four candidates had nominated their name for the position. They were Fernando Cruz (magistrate of the Constitutional Chamber), Fernando Castillo (magistrate of the Constitutional Chamber), Orlando Aguirre (magistrate of the Second Chamber), and Luis Guillermo Rivas (First Chamber). However, at 12:10 pm, Rivas withdrew his candidacy. According to Rivas, the other three candidates had all the conditions to be elected.
Magistrate Cruz now has the mission to lead the Judiciary, after being severely hit by the crisis originated by the cementazo.
Recently, the judges of the Third Chamber were suspended without salary for two months, Carlos Chinchilla (former president of the Supreme Court of Justice) retired in the middle of the controversy; Doris Arias took that same path, and Celso Gamboa was fired in April.
The vote was historic, due to the participation of 10 alternate magistrates and 12 incumbents, an unprecedented conformation to elect a president of the Judiciary.