Government Appoints Judge's Wife to Federal Court Amid Controversy

The Argentine government has officially approved the judicial promotion of Ana María Cristina Juan, the wife of Judge Marcelo Martínez de Giorgi, who is presiding over the highly sensitive "$LIBRA" case.

The appointment, made just hours before a World Cup semifinal match, has drawn scrutiny for two main reasons. Firstly, Juan is married to Martínez de Giorgi, the judge handling a case of significant political importance to the current administration. Secondly, her nomination breaks with the government's previous stance of not appointing magistrates to courts that have not yet been formally constituted.

This latter point was the justification used to block the appointment of María Verónica Michelli, whose sister-in-law is a journalist known for investigating the government. However, Juan's promotion is also supported by a judicial career spanning over three decades and a top ranking in the merit assessment conducted by the Council of the Magistracy.

Within the federal courts at Comodoro Py, where she currently serves, Juan is recognized as an efficient and experienced legal secretary. With a law degree from the University of Buenos Aires obtained 34 years ago and a doctorate from the University of Palermo, she has held a strategic position at the Federal Chamber of Comodoro Py for many years. This role involves reviewing the preliminary stages of cases of major concern to the government. Her career there began in the 1990s, progressing through various roles to become a legal secretary over a decade ago.

Last year, Juan took on additional responsibilities as the head of the Chamber's "judicial office," an organ of the new adversarial system that, although not yet officially inaugurated, has commenced operations. Some judicial officials consider her one of the most influential figures at Comodoro Py, citing her role in organizing hearings, managing administrative matters, and overseeing the sensitive process of assigning cases to specific courts through lotteries. "She operates at the heart of the system," one official commented, acknowledging her central position within the judicial machinery.