Argentina: Judge faces impeachment over alleged mistreatment of staff

Federal Judge Pablo Díaz Lacava, currently suspended from his position, is on trial before the Council of the Magistracy's jury of impeachment. The proceedings will determine whether he should be removed from his post due to accusations of injuries, threats, labor mistreatment, and gender-based violence against his subordinates.

Accusers Diego Barroetaveña, president of the Federal Cassation Chamber, and Deputy Álvaro González allege that Díaz Lacava subjected court officials and employees to "a living hell," which they claim negatively affected the administration of justice. They are advocating for his dismissal based on alleged poor performance.

Díaz Lacava's defense, led by constitutional lawyer Andrés Gil Domínguez, has rejected the charges. The defense team has presented details of the workplace situations and argued that the alleged harm has not been proven. The judge was offered an opportunity to speak but stated he would reserve his declaration until the end of the process, expressing a desire to hear all the evidence first.

This trial marks Díaz Lacava as the third judge to face impeachment proceedings in less than a year. Previously, Martín Poderti was removed from a Mar del Plata court, and a decision is pending on Judge Alfredo López, who faces accusations related to antisemitic social media posts. Díaz Lacava has been suspended since April 2023, following accusations from court secretaries regarding labor mistreatment, abuse of authority, coercion, and gender-based violence. He is also facing criminal charges for alleged offenses against judicial workers and is nearing a trial.

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I want to declare and give my version of the accusations I have heard for more than three and a half years, but I prefer not to do so at this time. The accusation has mutated, and I want to hear the evidence that will be produced in the coming days so that, eventually, at the close of the evidence production, they can ask me questions. I will declare later.