Lawyers Council Focuses on Judicial Appointments in Peru

(From left: Jaime Chavez Alor, Antonia Stolper, Jose Luis Lecaros Cornejo, Alberto Rebaza and Todd Crider | Photo Credit: Jaime Chavez Alor) 

A delegation of the Lawyers Council for Civil and Economic Rights met officials and other lawyers in Peru to observe and offer recommendations on the ongoing process for selecting judicial officials in the country. The process resulted from a system-wide corruption scandal, subsequent popular referendum, and recent legislation.

Members of the Special Commission responsible for appointing the National Board of Justice, which in turn later this year will appoint all judges and prosecutors in Peru, received the delegation.  It presented them with a document outlining international standards, comparative experience, and specific recommendations. It suggested how the National Board of Justice might evaluate candidates and ensure a transparent process with citizen participation.

Members of the Special Commission and others meeting the delegation expressed particular appreciation for the views of practicing lawyers from other countries in the Americas. They welcomed the Lawyers Council’s further participation in the process, which the Lawyers Council is considering.

Lawyers Council members Todd Crider and Antonia Stolper, both Vance Center Committee members, and Alberto Rebaza constituted the delegation, supported by Vance Center Latin America Policy Manager Jaime Chavez Alor. The Lawyers Council convenes private-practice attorneys across the Americas to support the critical work of civil society, to combat corruption throughout the region, and support the rule of law.