Milei meets Justice Minister to discuss Supreme Court vacancies

Argentine President Javier Milei convened with Justice Minister Juan Bautista Mahiques at the Olivos presidential residence to discuss key judicial matters, including the persistent vacancies on the Supreme Court. The meeting occurred shortly after Milei's return from Peru, where he attended Keiko Fujimori's inauguration.

Sources indicate that the potential appointments to the nation's highest court were a central topic of conversation. The government is reportedly "evaluating" the possibility of reviving its efforts to fill the two vacant seats on the Supreme Court. President Milei is currently considering a list of potential candidates for these positions. The court currently comprises three justices: Horacio Rosatti, Carlos Rosenkrantz, and Ricardo Lorenzetti. Last year, Milei's nominations of Ariel Lijo and Manuel García-Mansilla for the court failed to advance in the Senate.

Beyond the Supreme Court, the discussion also encompassed significant judicial reforms. These include a proposal to remove the Supreme Court from the Council of the Judiciary, the body responsible for appointing and removing judges. The reform package also aims to reduce the number of national judicial positions and reallocate surplus resources to provincial courts, particularly in border regions. This initiative comes at a critical time when the government seeks support from allied governors for various legislative efforts, including electoral reforms.

Minister Mahiques is also preparing to submit the 200th judicial appointment proposal to the Senate in the coming days, focusing on filling vacancies in lower courts and appellate chambers nationwide. The government ideally hopes to present the broader judicial reform package to Congress in September. Other judicial reforms under consideration include changes to the Penal Code, Civil Code, and the new Criminal Procedure Code. President Milei is also scheduled to address the nation on television to present a separate reform project concerning the Central Bank.