Judicial

Haiti: CSPJ First Case, One of Insubordination

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - The Supreme Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) has opened an investigation into the swearing-in of two new judges after it had placed a moratorium on installing new justices in the territory.

On Tuesday, July 10, the Dean of the Trial Courts, Jean Michel Raymond, inducted Lamarre Belizaire and Felix Leger, the former government commissioner who was removed for his involvement in the arrest of Deputy Arnel Belizaire (Delmas/independent). This installment was done after the CSPJ had sent out a circular to the deans of the 18 jurisdictions that they should not receive any oaths with its advisement.

The spokesman for the CSPJ, Nehemie Joseph, said the swearing in of Mr. Leger and Mr. Belizaire by Mr. Raymond was a violation of administrative principles, and "as a result, administrative disciplinary action will be taken against him soon," said Joseph.

An investigation was opened by the CSPJ and on Wednesday, Jean Michel Raymond responded to a subpoena by the CSPJ who convened with him to explain his decision to proceed with the installations. Furthermore, the CSPJ spokesman has announced that "these new oaths are null and void."

Imposition of the Executive on the Judiciary?

Stakeholders of the judiciary, parliamentarians, political party officials, personalities from civil society, among others, argue that the swearing in of the new judges was an act of boycott of the first measure of CSPJ.

Even worse, many in different arenas of political life are pointing to the Executive government as being responsible for the decision that was taken by Mr. Raymond.

Deputy Jean Aklush Louis-Jeune (Dame Marie/Alternative) believes the Minister of Justice, Jean Renel Sanon, should be interpellated and removed from office by his colleagues, suspecting his involvement.

The Chairman of the Justice Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, Fritz Gerald Bourjolly (Aquin/Inite) wonders if the two appointments, Felix Leger and Lamarre Belizaire, are even qualified to be judges.

Independence of the Judiciary remains in questions with many individual deploring the fact that the judiciary is still controlled by the executive.