Argentina removes federal judge over antisemitic remarks in historic first

An Argentine federal judge has been removed from his post for making antisemitic remarks on social media, a historic first for the country. Alfredo Eugenio López, who presided over Federal Court No. 4 in Mar del Plata, was dismissed by Argentina's Jury of Impeachment, a panel comprising judges, lawmakers, and lawyers.

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a brood of vipers

The decision came after López posted discriminatory content, referring to Jewish people as "a brood of vipers," calling Israel a "fictitious state," and labeling Argentinian Jews as "foreigners." He also used terms like "Zionist" and "gay" as insults. The impeachment panel found these actions constituted misconduct incompatible with his judicial role and shattered public confidence in his impartiality.

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fictitious state

The case began in February 2025 when the Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas, representing Argentina's Jewish community, filed the first complaint. The Argentine Forum Against Antisemitism and attorney Yamil Santoro also filed complaints later. López defended himself by claiming his messages were subjective interpretations unrelated to his judicial duties and had never led to his recusal from cases.

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foreigners

However, jury member Alberto Maques stated during an interview that López was removed "because he simply would not stop engaging in hate speech." Maques described the judge's conduct as "absolutely disgraceful for a federal judge."

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discrimination and the denial of equal rights against the Argentine Jewish community. For the purposes of these proceedings, it is particularly significant that, by acting in this manner, he shattered public confidence in his continued fitness to administer justice impartially.