UN Experts Call Nicaragua's Mass Lawyer Revocations a 'Grave Blow' to Human Rights

A group of UN human rights experts has condemned Nicaragua's mass revocation of lawyers' credentials, labeling it a "grave blow" to the human rights of Nicaraguans. The experts stated that evidence suggests the Nicaraguan government is systematically stripping numerous lawyers of their licenses to practice. This action significantly impacts the legal profession and the population's right to defense.

According to reports from affected professionals and judicial sources cited in Nicaraguan media, at least 2,000 lawyers have been removed from the registry of the Supreme Court of Justice. Neither the government nor the judiciary has provided an official explanation for these revocations. Jan-Michael Simon, president of the expert group, highlighted that while the government's interference in the judiciary has been repeatedly condemned, this elimination of a substantial portion of the legal profession marks a new escalation.

The UN experts, established in 2022 to investigate violations of fundamental freedoms in Nicaragua since the 2018 anti-government protests, warned that this measure has effectively eliminated a crucial segment of the country's legal profession overnight. They pointed out that interference in legal practice is not new; in 2023, authorities arbitrarily suspended at least 28 lawyers permanently. Furthermore, the renewal of mandatory notary "quinquenios" (five-year periods) for other lawyers has been arbitrarily rejected, preventing them from continuing their notarial functions.

These recent actions follow a broader purge within the judicial system that began in October 2023. During that period, police took control of the Supreme Court of Justice, and several high-ranking officials were removed, including eight magistrates who resigned or were forced out. A 2025 constitutional reform further stripped the judiciary of its status as an independent state power, redefining it as an "organ" coordinated by the presidency. The number of Supreme Court magistrates was also reduced from 16 to 10, all appointed after proposals from President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo. The experts described this "silent purge" as another nail in the coffin for judicial independence in Nicaragua.